Paplanhoz

Paplanhoz is a Hungarian directional form derived from the noun paplan (duvet). It belongs to the -hoz/-hez/-höz family of postpositions that express motion toward or toward and around a reference point. The choice among -hoz, -hez, and -höz follows vowel harmony rules in Hungarian; for paplan, which ends with a back vowel, the form paplanhoz is used.

Function and usage

Paplanhoz marks movement toward the duvet or identifies the duvet as a point of reference in a sentence. It is typically used with verbs of reaching, moving, placing, or approaching. Examples include sentences such as "Ő a paplanhoz nyúl," meaning "They reach toward the duvet." It can also appear in constructions advising or instructing, as in "Helyezze a takarót a paplanhoz," meaning "Place the blanket toward the duvet." The form functions syntactically like a postpositional phrase dependent on the noun paplan.

Relation to other forms

Paplanhoz is one member of the directional suffix set -hoz/-hez/-höz, which contrasts with other Hungarian case and postpositional forms such as -ban/-ben (in), -ban/-ben with location, or -ba/-be (into). The exact suffix is determined by vowel harmony and sometimes by the phonological shape of the stem; for paplan, the appropriate form is paplanhoz.

Etymology and grammar

The term arises from combining the noun paplan with the directional suffix -hoz. This pattern is common in Hungarian for expressing "to" or "toward" a place or object and is used across many nouns, not just paplan. Understanding paplanhoz helps clarify how Hungarian encodes spatial relationships via suffixal morphology rather than separate prepositions.

See also: Hungarian language grammar, suffixes -hoz/-hez/-höz.