részeshatározó
To, for someone
The person who gets something, or the ‘to’ of giving, telling, belonging.
-nak/-nek marks the person on the receiving end: who you give to, tell, show, or buy for. It also builds the possessive when you want to put weight on the owner.
Endings
-nak · -nek
Dative · to / for (recipient)
When not to use it
Not for ‘for the sake of’ — that is -ért. And not needed for a plain possessive: Péter háza already means ‘Péter’s house’ with the owner left bare.
Tell them apart
Péter háza
Péter’s house
Péternek a háza
Péter’s house (the owner stressed)
Bare possessor is the everyday form; -nek fronts and emphasises it.
Notes
- Adok a lánynak egy könyvet — I give the girl a book.
- Also the attributive possessor: a lánynak a könyve — the girl’s book.
- Back: -nak. Front: -nek.
Examples
Mondom Péternek.
I tell Péter.
Ez a kutyának a háza.
This is the dog’s house.
Adok a lánynak egy könyvet.
I give the girl a book.
Vettem neked virágot.
I bought you flowers.
Segítek a szomszédnak.
I help the neighbour.