Magánhangzócsoport

Magánhangzócsoport refers to a sequence of two or more vowels that appear consecutively within a word in Hungarian. These vowel groups can be internal to a word or occur at the beginning or end. The pronunciation of magánhangzócsoport is crucial for understanding Hungarian phonetics and orthography.

There are several types of magánhangzócsoport. Diphthongs, where two vowels are pronounced as a single, gliding sound, are one common form. Triphthongs, involving three vowels, are also possible, though less frequent. In some cases, adjacent vowels might belong to different syllables, forming a hiatus. Hungarian vowel harmony, a significant phonological process, also plays a role in how these groups are formed and pronounced. The rules of vowel harmony dictate which vowels can appear together, especially in suffixes.

The distinction between a true vowel cluster and two vowels belonging to separate morphemes is important. For instance, a suffix beginning with a vowel might attach to a stem ending in a vowel, creating an apparent magánhangzócsoport. Understanding these distinctions is key for language learners and linguists studying Hungarian. Examples include words like "áruellátás" (supply) where "á" and "u" form a sequence, or "leült" (sat down) where "e" and "ü" are adjacent.