lánccal

Lánccal is the instrumental-case form of the Hungarian noun lánc, meaning chain. It functions as a phrase indicating instrument or means, roughly translating to “with a chain” in English. The form is created by adding the suffix -val/-vel to the stem; because lánc ends with a consonant, Hungarian orthography doubles the final consonant before the suffix, yielding lánccal. The plural instrumental form is láncokkal, meaning “with chains.”

Lánccal is used with verbs to specify the tool or means by which an action is performed. Examples include: A kaput lánccal zárta (He closed the gate with a chain). A kutyát lánccal megkötötték (They tied the dog with a chain). It can also appear in contexts involving securing, binding, or attaching objects using a chain. The form is not a separate word; it is a grammatical variant of lánc.

In Hungarian, the instrumental case is one way to mark means or instrument, and its exact form depends on the stem ending and phonology. Lánc is a native Hungarian noun, and lánccal is the standard instrumental singular form. For multiple instruments, the form is láncokkal. Related topics include the broader use of instrumental forms in Hungarian grammar and other instrument-marking suffixes.