támadjanak

Támadjanak is a Hungarian verb form: it is the third person plural present subjunctive (also used in hortative constructions) of the verb támadni, meaning “to attack.” The form is used in clauses that express wish, possibility, or exhortation, most commonly in combinations with hadd to mean “let them attack.” In standard usage, the subjunctive here conveys a hypothetical or desired action rather than a straightforward statement of fact.

Morphology and spelling: the form is created from the verb stem támad- plus the subjunctive ending -janak. The ending reflects Hungarian vowel harmony and person/number marking for the third person plural present subjunctive. In other verbs with front vowels the corresponding ending can appear as -jenek, but with the támad- stem the back-vowel ending -janak is used. The form can also appear in longer constructions such as támadjanak meg, meaning “let them attack (them/ us)” with the particle meg indicating the transitive prefix.

Usage: támadjanak is relatively formal and is most often seen in literary, historical, or ceremonial language, or in subordinate clauses expressing wishes, hypothetical scenarios, or indirect commands. In everyday speech, speakers more often use other constructions to express exhortation or permission, such as using the infinitive with hadd or shifting to a different mood or aspect.

Examples:

- Hadd támadjanak meg minket. (Let them attack us.)

- A hadvezetés így szól: hadd támadjanak, ha szükséges. (The command is: let them attack if necessary.)

See also: támadni (to attack), meg- prefix with támadni (to attack someone or something, e.g., megtámadni).