beszélnünk

Beszélnünk is a Hungarian linguistic term referring to the personal infinitive form of the verb beszélni (to speak). It is a non-finite verb form that marks the subject as “we” (first person plural) and is used within subordinate clauses or after certain auxiliary or modal expressions. In effect, beszélnünk means “to speak for us” in a form that binds the action to the subject of the main clause.

Morphology and function

Beszélnünk is formed from the verb stem beszél- and the suffix -nk, which signals the first-person plural subject in a non-finite clause. It functions as a personal infinitive (as opposed to the bare infinitive beszélni) and typically appears after verbs or constructions that express necessity, obligation, or advisability. Examples of its use include expressions like meg kell beszélnünk (we must discuss/talk about it) or érdemes beszélnünk a témáról (it’s worth us talking about the topic). The form cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it forms part of a larger clause.

Usage notes

Beszélnünk is relatively formal and is more common in written language or careful speech. In everyday conversation, speakers often use the plain infinitive (beszélni) or rephrase with finite forms or other constructions rather than relying on the personal infinitive. The concept of the personal infinitive appears in Hungarian grammar as a broader category, with beszélnünk serving as a concrete instance for the first-person plural.

See also

Főnévi igenév (infinitive) and személyes főnévi igenév (personal infinitive) in Hungarian grammar.