Assimilation in pronunciation

This appendix describes the rules of phonetic assimilation in pronunciation of Hungarian.

Pronunciation of written Hungarian is, for the most part, easy once one learns to pronounce the consonants and vowels since words are pronounced as written. The main exceptions are due to voicing and devoicing of consonants causing the spelling and pronunciation to diverge.

Unfortunately, some of the IPA transcription produced even by native speakers do not accurately reflect the change in pronunciation caused by different assimilation mechanism. It is therefore necessary and useful to list the different cases of assimilation to assist both editors and readers to manage this tricky subject by providing sufficient examples of correct IPA transcriptions.

For a deeper explanation of the rules refer to the Wikipedia article ^[1]

Voicing and devoicing of consonants

Consonants can be classified as voiced and unvoiced. ^[2]

Unvoiced	p	t	k	f	sz	s	c	cs	ty	h
Voiced	b	d	g	v	z	zs	dz	dzs	gy		j	ly	m	n	ny	l	r

Unvoiced consonants (except h) become voiced when preceding voiced consonants (except j, ly, m, n, ny, l, r, v).
népdal [ˈneːbdɒl] folk song - in pronunciation the unvoiced consonant p becomes its voiced pair [b]
Voiced consonants (except j, ly, m, n, ny, l, r) are devoiced when preceding unvoiced consonants.
lábfej [ˈlaːpfɛj] foot - in pronunciation the voiced consonant b becomes its unvoiced pair [p]
If the cluster contains a pair of consonant which is the voiced/devoiced counterpart of the other then the result is a long consonant sound:
adtam ['ɒtːɒm] I gave

It is a partial assimilation, meaning only one part of the consonant cluster is modified.

In a cluster of consonants ending in an obstruent, all obstruents change their voicing according to the last one of the sequence.

barackdzsem ['bɒrɒdzɡdʒɛm] ~ ['bɒrɒdzdʒːɛm] apricot jam

The assimilation rules are the following.

Devoicing of voiced consonants

Voiced consonants (except j, ly, m, n, ny, l, r) are devoiced when preceding unvoiced consonants.

	p	t	k	f	sz	s	c	cs	ty	h
b	bp [pː]	bt [pt]	bk [pk]	bf [pf]	bsz [ps]	bs [pʃ]	bc [pt͡s]	bcs [pt͡ʃ]	bty [pc]	bh [ph]
	zsebpénz	dobtam	zsebkendő	lábfej	rabszolga	rabság	köbcenti	habcsók	lábtyű	dobhártya
d	dp [tp]	dt [tː]	dk [tk]	df [tf]	dsz [ts]	ds [tʃ]	dc [t͡sː]	dcs [tt͡ʃ]	dty [cː]	dh [th]
	zöldpaprika	adta fáradt	vodka	családfő	földszint tudsz	szabadság	családcentrikus	szabadcsapat	vadtyúk	adhat buddhista
g	gp [kp]	gt [kt]	gk [kː]	gf [kf]	gsz [ks]	gs [kʃ]	gc [kt͡s]	gcs [kt͡ʃ]	gty [kc]	gh [kh]
	mégpedig	rögtön	megkap	hangfal megfelel	fogsz legszebb	jogsértés	újságcikk	rágcsál	rengeteg tyúk	meghat
v	vp [fp]	vt [ft]	vk [fk]	vf [fː]	vsz [fs]	vs [fʃ]	vc [ft͡s]	vcs [ft͡ʃ]	vty [fc]	vh [fh]
	könyvpiac	szívtelen	könyvklub	évfolyam	évszak hívsz	könyvsiker	?	távcső	?	tévhit
z	zp [sp]	zt [st]	zk [sk]	zf [sf]	zsz [sː]	zs [ʃː]	zc [st͡s]	zcs [st͡ʃ]	zty [sc]	zh [sh]
	központ	pénztár	intézkedés	szárazföld	vízszintes	házsor	közcélú	vízcsepp	tíz tyúk	házhoz
zs	zsp [ʃp]	zst [ʃt]	zsk [ʃk]	zsf [ʃf]	zssz [ʃs]	zss [ʃː]	zsc [ʃt͡s]	zscs [ʃt͡ʃ]	zsty [ʃc]	zsh [ʃh]
	rizspehely	rizst	rozskenyér	rizsföld	törzsszám	garázssor	ánizscukorka	darázscsípés	?	törzshely
dz	dzp [t͡sp]	dzt [t͡st]	dzk [t͡sk]	dzf [t͡sf]	dzsz [t͡ss]	dzs [t͡sʃ]	dzc [t͡sː]	dzcs [t͡st͡ʃ]	dzty [t͡sc]	dzh [t͡sh]
	?	belopództak	ódzkodik	?	?	?	?	?	?	edzhet
dzs	dzsp [t͡ʃp]	dzst [t͡ʃt]	dzsk [t͡ʃk]	dzsf [t͡ʃf]	dzssz [t͡ʃs]	dzss [t͡ʃʃ]	dzsc [t͡ʃt͡s]	dzscs [t͡ʃː]	dzsty [t͡ʃc]	dzsh [t͡ʃh]
	bridzsprogram	bridzstől	bridzskönyv	a bridzs fő célja	bridzsszövetség	bridzssport	a bridzs célja	bridzscsapat	?	bridzshez
gy	gyp [cp]	gyt [ct]	gyk [ck]	gyf [cf]	gysz [cs]	gys [cʃ]	gyc [ct͡s]	gycs [ct͡ʃ]	gyty [cː]	gyh [ch]
	nagypapa	ágytól hegytető	nagykövet egykor	egyféle ügyfél	egyszer	egység	Nagycenk	hegycsúcs	gyöngytyúk	egyház hagyhat

b /b/ → /p/

bp [pː]
lábpárna [ˈlaːpːaːrnɒ] footrest

zsebpénz [ˈʒɛpːeːnz] allowance
bt [pt]
dobtam [ˈdoptɒm] I threw (it)

lábtörés [ˈlaːptøreːs] fracture of leg
bk [pk]
zsebkendő [ˈʒɛpkɛndøː] handkerchief
bf [pf]
lábfej [ˈlaːpfɛj] foot
bsz [ps]
absztrakt [ˈɒpstrɒkt] abstract

lábszár [ˈlaːpsaːr] leg, shin

rabszolga [ˈrɒpsolɡɒ] slave
bs [pʃ]
rabság [ˈrɒpʃaːg] captivity
bc [pt͡s]
köbcenti [ˈkøpt͡sɛnti] cubic centimeter
bcs [pt͡ʃ]
habcsók [ˈhɒpt͡ʃoːk] meringue
bty [pc]
lábtyű [ˈlaːpcyː] socks with sleeves for the toes
bh [ph]
dobhártya [ˈdophaːrcɒ] eardrum

d /d/ → [t]

dh [th]
adhat [ˈɒthɒt] s/he can give
dt [tː]
adtam [ˈɒtːɒm] I gave

g /g/ → [k]

gt [kt]
fogtam [ˈfoktɒm] I held (it)

rögtön [ˈrøktøn] immediately
gs [kʃ]
jogsértés [ˈjokʃeːrteːʃ] violation of rights

v /v/ → [f]

vt [ft]
szívtam [ˈsiːftɒm] I smoked/sucked (it)

szívtelen [ˈsiːftɛlɛn] heartless
vcs [ft͡ʃ]
távcső [ˈtaːft͡ʃøː] binoculars

z /z/ → [s]

zp [sp]
központ [ˈkøspont] center
zt [st]
méztől [ˈmeːstøːl] from honey

pénztár [ˈpeːnstaːr] cash register

zs /ʒ/ → [ʃ]

zsp [ʃp]
rizspehely [ˈriʃpɛhɛj] rice flakes
zsk [ʃk]
rozskenyér [ˈroʃkɛɲeːr] rye bread
zsf [ʃf]
rizsföld [ˈriʃføld] rice paddy
zs + sz [ʃs]
törzsszám [ˈtørʃsaːm] prime number

dz /d͡z/ → [t͡s]

dzh [t͡sh]
edzhet [ˈɛt͡shɛt] s/he can train

dzs /d͡ʒ/ → [t͡ʃ]

dzst [t͡ʃt]
bridzstől [ˈbrit͡ʃtøːl] from bridge <game of cards>

gy /ɟ/ → [c]

gyt [ct]
ágytól [ˈaːctoːl] from (a) bed
gys [cʃ]
egység [ˈɛcʃeːɡ] unity

Voicing of unvoiced consonants

Unvoiced consonants (except h) become voiced when preceding voiced consonants (except j, ly, m, n, ny, l, r, v).

	b	d	g	z	zs	dz	dzs	gy
p	pb [bː]	pd [bd]	pg [bg]	pz [bz]	pzs [bʒ]	pdz [bd͡z]	pdzs [bd͡ʒ]	pgy [bɟ]
	alapbér	népdal	népgazdaság	képzés	kapzsi	?	terepdzseki	gépgyár
t	tb [db]	td [dː]	tg [dg]	tz [dz]	tzs [dʒ]	tdz [d͡zː]	tdzs [d͡ʒː]	tgy [dɟ]
	képzeletbeli	kétdimenziós	hátgerinc	sötétzöld	kabátzseb	?	pamutdzsörzé	iratgyűjtő
k	kb [gb]	kd [gd]	kg [gː]	kz [gz]	kzs [gʒ]	kdz [gd͡z]	kdzs [gd͡ʒ]	kgy [gɟ]
	ajándékbolt	ablakdeszka	mákgubó	alakzat	homokzsák	?	gyerekdzseki	gyermekgyógyász
f	fb [vb]	fd [vd]	fg [vg]	fz [vz]	fzs [vʒ]	fdz [vd͡z]	fdzs [fd͡ʒ]	fgy [vɟ]
	széfben	csúfdal	afgán	?	?	?	golfdzseki	széfgyártás
sz	szb [zb]	szd [zd]	szg [zg]	szz [zː]	szzs [zʒ]	szdz [zd͡z]	szdzs [zd͡ʒ]	szgy [zɟ]
	horgászbot	csúszda	fűrészgép	gyászzene	horgászzsinór	?	kamaszdzseki	viaszgyertya
s	sb [ʒb]	sd [ʒd]	sg [ʒg]	sz [ʒz]	szs [ʒː]	sdz [ʒd͡z]	sdzs [ʒd͡ʒ]	sgy [ʒɟ]
	kevésbé	mosdik	basszusgitár	nyílászáró	sertészsír	?	városdzsungel	vasgyár
c	cb [d͡zb]	cd [d͡zd]	cg [d͡zg]	cz [d͡zz]	czs [d͡zʒ]	cdz [d͡zː]	cdzs [d͡zd͡ʒ]	cgy [d͡zɟ]
	párducbőr	lécdarab	piacgazdaság	tánczene	arczsába	?	árbocdzsungel	nyolcgyermekes
cs	csb [d͡ʒb]	csd [d͡ʒd]	csg [d͡ʒg]	csz [d͡ʒz]	cszs [d͡ʒʒ]	csdz [d͡ʒd͡z]	csdzs [d͡ʒː]	csgy [d͡ʒɟ]
	barkácsbolt	gubacsdarázs	tolmácsgép	kavicszátony	csúcszsaru	?	narancsdzsem	abroncsgyártás
ty	tyb [ɟb]	tyd [ɟd]	tyg [ɟg]	tyz [ɟz]	tyzs [ɟʒ]	tydz [ɟd͡z]	tydzs [ɟd͡ʒ]	tygy [ɟː]
	pontyból	?	?	?	?	?	?	?

p /p/ → [b]

pz [bz]
alapzat [ˈɒlɒbzɒt] base(ment)

képzés [ˈkeːbzeːʃ] formation
pdz [bd͡z]
alapdzadzíki [ˈɒlɒbd͡zɒd͡ziːki] standard tzatziki
pd [bd]
csapda [ˈt͡ʃɒbdɒ] trap

népdal [ˈneːbdɒl] folk song

kalapdoboz ['kɒlɒbdoboz] hatbox
pgy [bɟ]
gépgyár [ˈɡeːbɟaːr] machine factory

t /t/ → [d]

tg [dg]
állítgat [ˈaːlːiːdgɒt] s/he constantly adjusts
tb [db]
futball [ˈfudbɒlː] soccer

hétből [ˈheːdbøːl] from seven

kertben [ˈkerdben] in (a) garden

k /k/ → [g]

kb [gb]
zsákból [ˈʒaːɡboːl] out of (a) bag

s /ʃ/ → [ʒ]

sb [ʒb]
városban [ˈvaːroʒbɒn] in town

c /t͡s/ → [d͡z]

cb [d͡zb]
ketrecben ['kɛtrɛd͡zbɛn] in (a) cage

cs /t͡ʃ/ → [d͡ʒ]

csb [d͡ʒb]
ácsból ['aːd͡ʒboːl] from (a) carpenter

sz /s/ → [z]

sz + b [zb]
buszban [ˈbuzbɒn] in (a) bus

mészből [ˈmeːzbøːl] out of lime
sz + z [zː]
gyászzene [ˈɟaːzːɛnɛ] funeral music

f /f/ → [v]

fb [vb]
széfben [ˈseːvbɛn] in (a) safe

ty /c/ → [ɟ]

tyb [ɟb]
pintyből [ˈpiɲɟbøːl] from (a) finch

pontyból [ˈpoɲɟboːl] from (a) carp

Assimilation of sibilants

Hissing sibilants (sz, z) when preceding hushing sibilants (s, zs) become hushing sibilants (the above voicing and devoicing rules also apply if applicable).

sz [s] → [ʃ]

szs [ʃː]
egészség ['ɛgeːʃːeːg] health

sz [s] → [ʒ]

szzs [ʒː]
horgászzsinór [ˈhorgaːʒːinoːr] fishing line

z → [ʃ]

z + s [ʃ] → [ʃː]
igazság [ˈigɒʃːaːg] truth

község [ˈkøʃːeːg] village, community

nehézség [ˈnɛheːʃːeːg] difficulty

z → [ʒ]

z + zs [ʒ] → [ʒː]
tíz zsák [ˈtiːʒːaːk] ten bags

Lengthening of consonants before j

Between two vowels the consonant clusters dj, gyj, tj, tyj, nj, nyj are pronounced long, but if they are between a consonant and a vowel, they are pronounced short.

d + j → [ɟː]

adja [ˈɒɟːɒ] - he/she gives it

d + j → [ɟ]

földje [ˈfølɟɛ] - his/her land

gy [ɟ] + j → [ɟː]

hagyjátok [ˈhɒɟːaːtok] - leave it

t + j → [cː]

látja [ˈlaːcːɒ] - he/she sees it

mutatja [ˈmutɒcːɒ] - he/she shows

t + j → [c]

kertje [ˈkɛrcɛ] - his/her garden

ty [c] + j → [cː]

atyja [ˈɒcːɒ] - his/her father

bátyja [ˈbaːcːɒ] - his/her older brother

n + j → [ɲː]

kívánjuk [ˈkiːvaːɲːuk] - we wish

n + j → [ɲ]

westernje [ˈvɛstɛrɲɛ] his/her western movie

ny [ɲ] + j → [ɲː]

anyja [ˈɒɲːɒ] - his/her mother

hányja [ˈhaːɲːɒ] - he/she throws it

Nasal place assimilation

n → [m]

np [mp]
színpad [ˈsiːmpɒd] stage
nb [mb]
azonban [ˈɒzombɒn] but

különb [ˈkylømb] better (than)
nm [mː]
önmagam [ˈømːɒɡɒm] myself

n → [ŋ]

nk [ŋk]
munka [ˈmuŋkɒ] work
ng [ŋg]
angol [ˈɒŋɡol] English

n → [ɲ]

nty [ɲc]
pinty [piɲc] finch
ntj [ɲc]
bontja [ˈboɲcɒ] s/he takes it apart
nty [ɲɟ]
angyal [ɒɲɟɒl] angel
ndj [ɲɟ]
mondjuk [ˈmoɲɟuk] let's say
n + ny [ɲː]
magánnyomozó [ˈmɒɡaːɲːomozoː] private detective

japán nyelv [ˈjɒpaːɲːɛlv] Japanese language

Full assimilation

l + r → [rː]

álruha [ˈaːrːuhɒ] - disguise

balra [ˈbɒrːɒ] - to the left

félre [ˈfeːrːɛ] - to the side

l + j → [jː]

tanulj [ˈtɒnujː] - learn!

ll + j → [jː]

hallja [ˈhɒjːɒ] - he/she can hear it

t + sz [s] → [t͡sː]

játszik [ˈjaːt͡sːik] - he/she is playing

metsz [ˈmɛt͡sː]

t + sz [s] → [t͡s]

Bratszk [ˈbrɒt͡sk] - Bratsk

d + sz [s] → [t͡sː]

másodszor [ˈmaːʃot͡sːor] - the second time

t + s [ʃ] → [t͡ʃː]

barátság [ˈbɒraːt͡ʃːaːg] - friendship

t + s [ʃ] → [t͡ʃ]

mentség [ˈmɛnt͡ʃeːg] - excuse

d + s [ʃ] → [t͡ʃː]

szabadság [ˈsɒbɒt͡ʃːaːg] - freedom

Consonant clusters

If more than two consonants follow each other in a word, the middle consonant will not be pronounced.

ndt [nt]
mondta [ˈmontɒ] s/he said
ndny [ɲː]
mindnyájan [ˈmiɲːaːjɒn] all of us/you/them

References

^ Wikipedia Article on Hungarian Phonology at w:Hungarian_phonology#Assimilation
^ Rounds, Carol. Hungarian: an Essential Grammar. London / New York: Routledge. 2001. →ISBN. Preview at Google Books

[WHA-1] Wikipedia Article on Hungarian Phonology at w:Hungarian_phonology#Assimilation

[2] Rounds, Carol. Hungarian: an Essential Grammar. London / New York: Routledge. 2001. →ISBN. Preview at Google Books

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