megmondani

Megmondani is a Hungarian verb meaning to tell or to inform someone of something. It is the perfective form of mondani with the prefix meg-, which adds a sense of definitiveness or completion to the act of telling. The verb is transitive and typically requires both the content to be told and the recipient of that information.

Usage and patterns

Megmondani is used when someone delivers information in a definite, committal way. It is often contrasted with more general verbs like közölni (to communicate) by emphasizing that the information is stated outright to someone. It commonly takes a direct object representing what is told and an indirect object representing to whom it is told. Examples include: Megmondtam neki az igazat. (I told him the truth.) Megmondom az igazságot. (I will tell the truth.) Megmondjátok neki, mit tegyen. (You tell him what to do.)

Conjugation and aspect

Megmondani is a perfective verb, so its forms refer to completed actions. Present tense forms include: én megmondom, te megmondod, ő megmondja, mi megmondjuk, ti megmondjátok, ők megmondják. Past tense forms include: én megmondtam, te megmondtad, ő megmondta, mi megmondtuk, ti megmondtátok, ők megmondták. The verb can also appear with subordinate clauses introduced by hogy, for example: Megmondom, hogy mit tegyen.

Etymology and nuance

The word combines mondani (to say) with the prefix meg-, which in Hungarian often signals completeness or a definitive action. Megmondani thus conveys a firmer, more explicit act of informing than simply saying something, and it is commonly used in both everyday speech and written Hungarian to mark clear communication.