szemük

Szemük is the Hungarian third-person plural possessive form of the noun szem (eye). It marks that the eye belongs to a group of people, i.e., to “them.” In the language’s possessive system, the base noun is combined with a suffix to indicate ownership by the possessor, and szemük is the standard form used when the possessor is they.

Morphologically, szemük is built by attaching a possessive ending to the stem szem. The resulting form functions as a noun phrase that can serve as the subject or object in a sentence, just like other Hungarian possessive forms. The same pattern applies to other body parts and common nouns, with the precise suffix adjusted for vowel harmony and phonological reasons in different contexts.

In usage, szemük appears in everyday speech and writing to refer to the eyes of a group. For example, a sentence such as “A szemük csillogott” translates to “Their eyes sparkled,” signaling possession by the people discussed. The form is also frequently encountered in descriptive or narrative prose when describing traits or actions of more than one person.

Notes on nuance: szemük is a member of a broader set of Hungarian possessive constructions that indicate ownership without repeating a pronoun. In contexts where ambiguity might arise, speakers may opt for the full possessive phrase az ő szemük (“their eye/eyes”) for clarity. The word serves as a typical illustration of how Hungarian marks possession through suffixation on the noun.

See also: Hungarian grammar, Possessive suffixes in Hungarian, Personal pronouns in Hungarian.