Rendelhetnek

Rendelhetnek is a Hungarian verb form derived from the verb rendel, which can mean both to order (a restaurant order) and to prescribe (a doctor). The form expresses possibility or permission in the present tense for a plural third-person subject. In English this corresponds roughly to “they may order” or “they can prescribe.”

Morphology and meaning: Rendelhetnek is built from the stem rendel, the potential suffix -het, and the third-person plural ending -nek. The construction follows Hungarian vowel harmony, with -het chosen because the stem presents front vowels. This form is used in contexts where action is possible or permitted but not certain.

Usage examples:

- Az orvosok rendelhetnek gyógyszert a betegeknek. (Doctors may prescribe medication to patients.)

- A kereskedők rendelhetnek készletet a beszállítótól. (Merchants may order stock from the supplier.)

Distinctions: Rendelhetnek belongs to the potential mood, which differs from the conditional mood. The corresponding conditional form for “they could order” is rendelhetnének. The choice between potential and conditional expresses different degrees of likelihood or hypothetical circumstance.

See also: rendel (to order or to prescribe), rendelés (order or prescription), mood and modal constructions in Hungarian verbs.

Notes: While rendelhetnek can appear in formal or technical writing—such as legal, medical, or business texts—it is less common in everyday casual speech, where simpler forms or context usually clarify whether ordering or prescribing is intended.