Segíthetnél

Segíthetnél is a Hungarian verb form meaning “you could help” or “could you help.” It is the second-person singular form in the present potential (often treated as a conditional-like) mood of the verb segíteni, to help. The form expresses possibility or ability in a hypothetical or polite request rather than a definite action.

Formation and meaning: segíthetnél is built from the verb stem segít-, the potential suffix -het, and the second-person singular ending -nél. This combination yields a construction that is commonly used when asking someone for assistance in a courteous way. The phrase without the pronoun, as inSegíthetnél?, can function as a brief, polite question meaning “Could you help?” and is frequently expanded with an indirect object, such as Segíthetnél nekem? “Could you help me?”

Usage notes: Segíthetnél is typical in informal, one-on-one conversations addressing a single person. It softens the request and can be used in everyday, workplace, or educational contexts. In more formal or distant contexts, speakers may choose alternative forms or constructions to convey politeness, such as different endings or the use of a different sentence structure (for example, using a polite question form rather than the direct second-person singular form).

Examples:

- Segíthetnél nekem ebben a feladatban? Could you help me with this task?

- Segíthetnél, kérlek? Could you help, please?

See also: Hungarian verb conjugation, segíteni, mood distinctions in Hungarian grammar.