Which Prefix? Everyday Verbs

Hungarian verbs often take a prefix (igekötő) that adds a direction: fel (up), le (down), be (in), ki (out), át (across), el (away), vissza (back), haza (home), össze (together).

• felszáll a buszra (get on the bus) – leszáll a buszról (get off)
• beszáll az autóba (get into the car) – kiszáll az autóból (get out)
• felveszi a kabátot (put on) – leveszi (take off)
• kinyitja az ablakot (open) – becsukja (close)

The case ending helps: -ba/-be goes with be, -ból/-ből with ki. Buses and trams take fel/le, cars and taxis take be/ki. The prefix is written together with the verb (átmegy), but in commands, after nem and after a stressed word it follows the verb as a separate word: Nyisd ki! (Open it!), Még nem adta vissza. (He hasn't given it back yet.)