Explained - Superlative adjectives in Hungarian

Do you struggle with understanding the concept of superlative adjectives in Hungarian? These "best in class" adjectives denote the highest level or degree of something. In Hungarian, they are quite straightforward to form because they follow a systematic approach. This blog post is dedicated to explaining how these superlative adjectives are formed and used in the Hungarian language.

The Root: Adjective Comparatives

Understanding superlative adjectives in Hungarian begins with understanding the comparative form of adjectives. The comparative form of an adjective is used to compare two or more things.

For example, consider magas (tall). When we want to say "taller", we say magasabb. Here, -abb is the comparative suffix added to the word.

The Superlative Form

To form the superlative in Hungarian, simply add leg- to the beginning of the comparative form. So, comparative magasabb turns into superlative legmagasabb (the tallest). This basic rule applies to almost all adjectives in Hungarian.

Some Examples

Let's see this rule in application with simple examples:

1. a legmagasabb vagyok. (I am the tallest)

2. te a leglassúbb vagy. (You are the slowest)

3. Ági a legszebb. (Ági is the most beautiful)

4. a három kutya közül a legfiatalabb a legbutább. (Of the three dogs, the youngest is the stupidest)

For Extremities: Using leges-

To express something to an extreme, like 'the very best', Hungarian uses a different affix instead of leg-. The affix leges- is used.

For example:

1. a legesjobb (the very best)

'Legalább' - A Case Exception

An interesting phrase that appears to use a form of superlative but doesn't in English translation is legalább, which means 'at least'. While it might seem to fit the superlative form, its usage and translation are different.

By understanding these foundations and specific examples, learners can better understand and apply the superlatives in the Hungarian language. Remember, practice aids proficiency. So, keep trying them out in sentences until you're confident using superlative adjectives in Hungarian.