Birtokolnak

Birtokolnak is a Hungarian verb form that translates roughly as "they possess" or "they own." It is the third-person plural present tense of the verb birtokolni, meaning to possess or own. The form reflects the subject plural and is used when the subject of the sentence is a group.

Form and grammar

The form is built from the stem birtokol- plus the third-person plural ending. In Hungarian, the ending for present tense is typically -nak or -nek, chosen according to vowel harmony; for birtokolni the common present-tense form is birtokolnak. When the direct object is definite, Hungarian can shift to a different third-person plural form with the definite-object suffix -ják, yielding birtokolják. Thus, the same verb can appear as birtokolnak or birtokolják depending on object definiteness and emphasis.

Semantic and lexical notes

The root noun birtok means possession or property, and the verb birthokolni is formed with habitual verb-formation patterns in Hungarian. The overall meaning centers on ownership or control of an item, resource, or right, rather than temporary or incidental contact.

Usage and examples

Birtokolnak appears with a plural subject: for example, A vállalatok birtokolnak több ingatlant. (The companies own several properties.) When the object is definite, the form commonly used is birtokolják: A cégek birtokolják a házat. Nem birtokolnak semmit means "They do not possess anything." The choice between birtokolnak and birtokolják can reflect object definiteness and emphasis within a sentence.

Related terms include birtok (possession, property) and the infinitive birtokolni (to possess).