aként

aként is a Hungarian suffix that attaches to a noun to express the idea of “as” or “in the capacity of.” It denotes the role, function, or identity of the subject in a clause and is commonly used with occupations, titles, or social statuses.

Formation and use

The suffix -ként is added directly to the base noun, producing forms such as tanárként (as a teacher), mérnökként (as an engineer), íróként (as a writer), or vezetőként (as a leader). The resulting expression typically functions as part of a predicate: Ő tanárként dolgozik. The construction can replace or complement the use of the particle mint, which also means “as,” but -ként often sounds more formal or precise in indicating a role or capacity.

Meaning and nuance

aként signals the role or official capacity in which the subject operates, rather than a general comparison. It can refer to present, past, or hypothetical roles depending on the tense of the surrounding verb. While useful in formal and written Hungarian, it is also common in everyday speech when specifying a job or position.

Variations and restrictions

The suffix cooperates with a wide range of base nouns, including compound forms (e.g., postavezetőként, igazgatóként). It is not typically used with adjectives to mean “as” in the sense of appearance; for roles and functions, it remains attached to a noun.

Examples

- Ő tanárként dolgozik az iskolában. (He works as a teacher at the school.)

- Mérnökként felelős a projekt sikeréért. (As an engineer, he is responsible for the project’s success.)

- Íróként jelent meg a legújabb regénye. (As a writer, his latest novel appeared.)

aként is a productive and widely understood element in Hungarian, useful for specifying professional identity or capacity in a concise, formal manner.