Barátaimnak

Barátaimnak is a Hungarian dative construction meaning "to my friends" or "for my friends." It combines the phrase barátaim (my friends) with the dative suffix -nak/-nek to indicate the indirect recipient or beneficiary of an action. The form is a standard part of Hungarian grammar and can appear in various sentence positions, typically with verbs that take a dative object or with prepositional phrases.

Formation and function: The base barátaim means "my friends." Adding -nak yields barátaimnak, the dative form used when the action is directed toward the friends, for example as recipients of thanks, greetings, gifts, or messages. In use, barátaimnak often follows the verb or comes after the definite article when the sentence includes a direct object.

Examples: Köszönöm a barátaimnak a segítséget. (I thank my friends for the help.) A barátaimnak írok egy üdvözletet. (I am writing a greeting to my friends.) Ezt a könyvet a barátaimnak szánom. (I dedicate this book to my friends.)

Notes: Barátaimnak is a typical illustration of Hungarian’s dative construction, which marks the recipient or beneficiary rather than the subject. It appears across formal and informal registers and can be combined with a wide range of verbs and phrases to express actions directed at friends.

See also: Hungarian grammar, Dative case, Possessive suffixes, Barát (friend).