tölthetik

Tölthetik is a finite verb form in Hungarian derived from tölteni, meaning to fill or to load. The form is used to express possibility or permission for a third-person plural subject, corresponding in English to “they may fill” or “they could fill.” In grammar discussions, tölthetik is described as part of the mood and aspect system that handles modality and contingency.

Morphology and form: The form is built from the verb stem töl- and combines a mood/mode suffix that signals possibility with a plural agreement ending. The exact suffix sequence reflects Hungarian vowel harmony and standard verb conjugation rules. As a result, tölthetik appears primarily in formal, technical, or linguistic descriptions of modal verb forms, and may occur in subordinate clauses where potential action by multiple subjects is being discussed.

Usage and register: Tölthetik expresses a potential or permitted action by multiple subjects. Because it conveys uncertainty rather than a definite assertion, it is more commonly found in written language, scholarly explanations of Hungarian grammar, or instructional material about mood and modality. In everyday speech, speakers often use alternative constructions or different modal words to express similar meanings, depending on context and tone.

Etymology and related forms: The form comes from tölteni (to fill) with a mood suffix indicating possibility, combined with a plural ending. Related forms include töltheti (singular third person), tölthetnék (other mood variants), and the infinitive tölteni. These forms are part of the broader Hungarian system of modality, mood, and person agreement.

See also: Hungarian grammar; tölteni; mood and modality; lehet.