Szia.

If you’ve spent any time with Hungarian, you’ve probably noticed little words that seem to glue themselves to the front of verbs, and then sometimes mysteriously jump to a different spot in the sentence. These are called verbal prefixes, or igekötők in Hungarian.

Don’t let them scare you! They might seem tricky, but they’re one of the most powerful and creative parts of the Hungarian language. Understanding them is a huge step towards sounding more natural.

Think of them like English phrasal verbs. We know that “to look” is different from “to look up,” “to look for,” or “to look after.” The small word changes the meaning. Hungarian verbal prefixes work in a very similar way.

In this guide, we’ll break down what they are, how they work, and the simple rules for where they go in a sentence.

What are verbal prefixes (igekötők)?

A verbal prefix, or igekötő, is a small word that attaches to the beginning of a verb to change its meaning. It can give the verb a new direction, show that the action is completed, or even give it a brand new definition.

Let’s take a simple verb: megy, which means “to go.” Now watch what happens when we add some prefixes:

• bemegy -> to go in
• kimegy -> to go out
• felmegy -> to go up
• lemegy -> to go down
• átmegy -> to go across

See? The base verb megy stays the same, but the prefixes be-, ki-, fel-, le-, and át- give it a specific direction. This is the most basic function of an igekötő.

How verbal prefixes change a verb’s meaning

Verbal prefixes can change a verb’s meaning in three main ways.

1. Adding direction

This is the most straightforward use, like we saw with megy. The prefix tells you where the action is going.

2. Showing completion (perfective aspect)

This is a super important concept in Hungarian. Sometimes, a prefix doesn’t add a direction, but instead signals that an action is finished or completed. The most common prefix for this is meg-, but others like el- are also used.

Compare these two sentences:

Here, meg- doesn’t mean “up” or “in”—it just adds the sense of “I did it, and it’s done.”

Here’s another example with el-:

3. Creating a completely new meaning

Sometimes, a prefix and a verb combine to create a meaning you wouldn’t guess from the parts. You just have to learn these as new vocabulary items.

• lát means “sees”

• belát means “understands” or “realizes”

• néz means “looks”

• megnéz means “watches” (like a movie) or “checks out”

The big question: when do verbal prefixes separate?

Okay, here’s the part that confuses everyone at first. Sometimes the prefix sticks to the verb, and sometimes it separates and moves. The rules are actually very consistent!

The prefix separates from the verb and moves immediately after it in these situations:

1. In negative sentences

When you use nem (not) or ne (in commands), the prefix separates.

• Positive: Bemegyek a boltba. (I go into the store.)
• Negative: Nem megyek be a boltba. (I do not go into the store.)

2. With most question words

When you ask a question with words like hol? (where?), mikor? (when?), mit? (what?), the prefix separates.

• Statement: Elolvasom a könyvet. (I’ll read the book.)
• Question: Mikor olvasod el a könyvet? (When will you read the book?)

3. In commands (imperative mood)

When you tell someone to do something, the prefix separates.

• Infinitive: Befejezni (To finish)
• Command: Fejezd be a leckét! (Finish the homework!)

4. When you emphasize another part of the sentence

In Hungarian, the word right before the verb gets special emphasis (this is called “focus”). If you move another word there for emphasis, the prefix has to move out of the way.

• Neutral: Felhívom anyát. (I’ll call mom.)
• Emphasis on “mom”: Anyát hívom fel. (It’s mom I’m calling.)

A quick note on future tense

If you use the helper verb fog for the future tense, the prefix actually stays with the main verb, which is in its infinitive form.

This is an exception to the separation rule, but it’s good to know!

Common verbal prefixes and their meanings

While some prefixes can have many meanings, here is a simple table with the most common ones to get you started.

Final thoughts

Verbal prefixes are a core feature of Hungarian. They might seem like a lot to learn, but they add so much detail and precision to the language.

My best advice is not to try and memorize all the rules at once. Instead, start noticing them when you read or listen to Hungarian. See bemegy and think, “Ah, be- means ‘in’.” See megcsináltam and think, “Okay, meg- means the action is finished.”