Döntsenek

Döntsenek is a Hungarian verb form that belongs to the conjunctive (kötőmód) mood. It is the present subjunctive form for the third person plural of the verb dönteni, which means to decide. In English, it can be understood as “that they decide” or, in a more imperative sense, “let them decide.” The form is typically used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical actions, and it often appears in dependent clauses introduced by the conjunction hogy (that).

Morphologically, döntseni stem with subject-verb agreement yields the form pääted by the standard pattern for third-person plural present subjunctive, using the ending -senek or -jenek according to vowel harmony. Döntsenek thus exemplifies how Hungarian subjunctive endings adapt to the stem and to surrounding phonology in formal language.

Usage notes: the present subjunctive in Hungarian is common in legal, administrative, or literary texts, as well as in some formal or ceremonial speech. In everyday spoken Hungarian, speakers frequently use indicative or imperative-like constructions to convey similar meanings, but döntsene kends remains a recognized form in more formal registers. It can appear in clauses that aim to attribute a wish or directive to a group, such as a committee or council, especially when emphasizing a collective action or expectation.

Examples: Döntsenek úgy, ahogyan jónak látják. This sentence means “Let them decide as they see fit.” The form illustrates the optative/volitive sense of the present subjunctive in a plural subject.