magánhangzóválasztás

Magánhangzóválasztás is a Hungarian linguistic term referring to the selection of vowels in word formation or inflection. This process is governed by the principles of vowel harmony, a widespread phonological phenomenon in Uralic languages, including Hungarian. Vowel harmony dictates that vowels within a single word must belong to a particular class, either front or back, and often also a specific height, either high or non-high.

In Hungarian, there are generally two main types of vowel harmony: front-back harmony and rounded-unrounded harmony. Front vowels (e, é, i, í, ö, ő, ü, ű) typically occur with other front vowels, while back vowels (a, á, o, ó, u, ú) occur with other back vowels. Similarly, rounded vowels (o, ó, ö, ő, u, ú, ü, ű) tend to harmonize with other rounded vowels, and unrounded vowels (a, á, e, é, i, í) with other unrounded vowels.

The choice of magánhangzó is crucial for grammatical correctness in Hungarian. Suffixes, which are essential for indicating grammatical functions like case, possession, or verb tense, often have multiple forms that differ only in their vowel. The specific form of the suffix chosen depends on the magánhangzó type present in the root word to which it is attached. For instance, the accusative suffix has forms like -t, -at, -et, -ot, -öt, -ut, -űt, and the selection depends on the vowel harmony of the preceding word. Mastering magánhangzóválasztás is therefore fundamental for fluent and accurate Hungarian.