-nem

See also: Appendix:Variations of "nem"

Hungarian

Etymology

From -n- (infinitive suffix) +‎ -em (first-person singular suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [nɛm]

Suffix

-nem

1. (conjugated infinitive suffix) Forms the first-person singular of an infinitive.

   beszélni (“to talk”) → Beszélnem kell vele. ― I have to talk to him/her.

Usage notes

• The conjugated infinitive denotes action connected to the person. The non-conjugated infinitive has a general meaning:

  Itt nem szabad dohányoznom. ― I am not allowed to smoke here. (first-person)

  Itt nem szabad dohányozni. ― Smoking is not allowed here. (general)

• Variants:

  -nom is added to back-vowel words that form their infinitive with -ni

  rohanni (“to run”) → Rohannom kell. ― I have to run.

  -nem is added to unrounded front-vowel words that form their infinitive with -ni

  nevetni (“to laugh”) → Nevetnem kell. ― I have to laugh.

  -nöm is added to rounded front-vowel words that form their infinitive with -ni

  főzni (“to cook”) → Ma főznöm kell. ― I have to cook today.

  -anom is added to back-vowel words that form their infinitive with -ani

  tanítani (“to teach”) → Tanítanom kell. ― I have to teach.

  -enem is added to front-vowel words that form their infinitive with -eni

  veszíteni (“to lose”) → Súlyt kell veszítenem. ― I have to lose weight.

    Conjugated infinitive – personal endings

Person		Back vowel	Front vowel
			unrounded	rounded
én	1st person singular	-nom	-nem	-nöm
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anom	-enem
te	2nd person singular	-nod	-ned	-nöd
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anod	-ened
ő maga ön	3rd person singular	-nia	-nie
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-ania	-enie
mi	1st person plural	-nunk	-nünk
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anunk	-enünk
ti	2nd person plural	-notok	-netek	-nötök
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anotok	-enetek
ők maguk önök	3rd person plural	-niuk	-niük
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-aniuk	-eniük
	archaic/dialectal	-niok	-niök

See also

• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes