Akar means “want” and presents a subject's will or firm intention. With the same actor in both events, it controls an infinitive: menni akarok “I want to go.” With a different actor, Hungarian normally uses azt akarja, hogy plus the imperative–subjunctive. Direct noun objects and objects inside the infinitive control indefinite versus definite agreement on akar.
This page gives the complete paradigm and the verb's characteristic control, focus, prefix-climbing, and politeness behavior. Unlabeled uses are neutral as statements of intention; their interpersonal force depends strongly on setting. The general modal comparison appears under Hungarian modal verbs.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present 3sg | Past 3sg | Imperative 2sg | Conditional 3sg | Present participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| akarni | akar | akart | akarj; akard | akarna | akaró |
The stem is regular and back-vowel: akarok, akartam, akarnék, akarj. The first-person singular indefinite conditional is akarnék, with front é in the ending even after a back-vowel stem; akarnák is third-person plural definite.
Idén ősszel szeretnék költözni, de előbb biztos állást akarok találni.
I'd like to move this autumn, but first I want to find a secure job.
Present: direct and inherited object agreement
| Person | Indefinite | Definite |
|---|---|---|
| én | akarok | akarom |
| te | akarsz | akarod |
| ő / ön | akar | akarja |
| mi | akarunk | akarjuk |
| ti | akartok | akarjátok |
| ők / önök | akarnak | akarják |
A gyerekek kakaót akarnak, én inkább teát kérek.
The children want cocoa; I'd rather have tea.
A sarokban álló asztalt akarjuk, nem az ablak mellettit.
We want the table standing in the corner, not the one by the window.
Direct indefinite kakaót selects akarnak; definite a ... asztalt selects akarjuk. The same agreement reaches through a controlled infinitive to its object.
Meg akarok nézni egy rövid dokumentumfilmet.
I want to watch a short documentary.
Meg akarom nézni az új dokumentumfilmet.
I want to watch the new documentary.
The lower verb stays infinitive in both. Its indefinite versus definite object selects akarok versus akarom.
Past and conditional
| Person | Past indefinite | Past definite | Conditional indefinite | Conditional definite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| én | akartam | akartam | akarnék | akarnám |
| te | akartál | akartad | akarnál | akarnád |
| ő / ön | akart | akarta | akarna | akarná |
| mi | akartunk | akartuk | akarnánk | akarnánk |
| ti | akartatok | akartátok | akarnátok | akarnátok |
| ők / önök | akartak | akarták | akarnának | akarnák |
Tegnap fel akartalak hívni, de estig tartott az értekezlet.
I wanted to call you yesterday, but the meeting lasted until evening.
Akartalak is the special first-person-subject/second-person-object form in -lak. Prefix fel- belongs to hívni but climbs before finite akartalak.
Nem akarnék dönteni, amíg nem ismerjük a pontos költségeket.
I wouldn't want to decide until we know the exact costs.
Ezt a lehetőséget semmiképp sem akarnám elszalasztani.
I definitely wouldn't want to miss this opportunity.
The analytic future is possible (akarni fogok), but present akar with a future action is usually sufficient because wanting is already current.
Imperative–subjunctive
| Person | Indefinite | Definite |
|---|---|---|
| én | akarjak | akarjam |
| te | akarj / akarjál | akard / akarjad |
| ő / ön | akarjon | akarja |
| mi | akarjunk | akarjuk |
| ti | akarjatok | akarjátok |
| ők / önök | akarjanak | akarják |
Commands that order someone to want something are pragmatically restricted; wishes and subordinate negative instructions are more natural.
Ne akarj mindent egyetlen délután alatt befejezni!
Don't try to finish everything in a single afternoon! (informal)
A terapeuta nem várta el, hogy azonnal akarjak beszélni róla.
The therapist did not expect me to want to talk about it immediately.
Bármit választhat, csak valóban akarja használni a mindennapokban.
He/She may choose anything, provided that he/she genuinely intends to use it every day.
Infinitive and participles
The infinitive is akarni; personal forms are akarnom, akarnod, akarnia, akarnunk, akarnotok, akarniuk.
Nem elég változást akarnunk; pontos lépéseket is ki kell dolgoznunk.
It isn't enough for us to want change; we also have to develop concrete steps.
| Form | Function | Register |
|---|---|---|
| akaró | wanting/intending | neutral, often with a complement |
| akart | intended; wanted | neutral |
| akarandó | that which is to be wanted | rare/archaic |
| akarva | deliberately, in the fixed pair akarva-akaratlanul | neutral fixed expression |
A külföldön tanulni akaró diákoknak februárig kell jelentkezniük.
Students wishing to study abroad have to apply by February.
Akarva-akaratlanul mindenki alkalmazkodott az új menetrendhez.
Willingly or unwillingly, everyone adapted to the new timetable.
There is no reason to produce rare akarandó in normal speech. Use a relative clause such as amit kívánni kellene if that unusual meaning is genuinely intended.
Same subject versus different subject
When the wanter controls the desired action, use the infinitive and do not repeat the subject.
Korábban akarunk indulni, hogy még világosban odaérjünk.
We want to leave earlier so that we arrive while it is still light.
When one person wants another to act, use azt akarja, hogy plus the imperative–subjunctive.
A tulajdonos azt akarja, hogy a kivitelezők péntekig fejezzék be a munkát.
The owner wants the contractors to finish the work by Friday.
English can say wants the contractors to finish with one infinitive. Hungarian does not use a personal infinitive here: the second subject is expressed in a finite subordinate clause.
Politeness and interpersonal force
Akarok is neutral when reporting one's genuine plan: Orvos akarok lenni “I want to be a doctor.” In a service encounter, however, I want... can foreground entitlement. Kérek/kérnék or szeretnék normally performs the request more tactfully.
Holnap otthon akarok maradni, mert pihenésre van szükségem.
I want to stay home tomorrow because I need to rest.
A jövő hónapra szeretnék időpontot kérni.
I would like to make an appointment for next month. (polite)
The second is preferable to Időpontot akarok at an unfamiliar reception desk. That is a register choice, not a claim that akar is inherently rude.
Prefix climbing and focus
Akar itself has no productive directional prefix family. A prefix before it normally belongs semantically to the infinitive: el akar menni, meg akarja írni, fel akar hívni. Neutral affirmative order favors climbing. Negation or narrow focus commonly leaves the prefix attached to the infinitive.
El akarom olvasni a pályázat minden mellékletét.
I want to read every attachment to the application.
Nem akarom elolvasni mások személyes üzeneteit.
I don't want to read other people's private messages.
Csak hétvégén akarom átnézni a régi fényképeket.
I want to look through the old photographs only at the weekend.
The first has neutral prefix climbing; nem and focused csak hétvégén block it in the next two. The prefix remains part of elolvasni/átnézni semantically.
Common Mistakes
❌ El akarok olvasom egy novellát.
Incorrect lower verb: akar controls an infinitive, not a finite verb.
✅ El akarok olvasni egy novellát.
I want to read a short story.
❌ Meg akarok venni ezt a fényképezőgépet.
Incorrect object agreement: ezt makes the lower object definite.
✅ Meg akarom venni ezt a fényképezőgépet.
I want to buy this camera.
❌ A főnök akar minket befejezni a jelentést.
Incorrect different-subject structure: Hungarian requires a hogy clause.
✅ A főnök azt akarja, hogy fejezzük be a jelentést.
The boss wants us to finish the report.
⚠️ Egy kávét akarok.
Grammatical statement of desire, but often too forceful as an order to an unfamiliar server.
✅ Egy kávét szeretnék kérni.
I would like to order a coffee. (polite)
Key Takeaways
- Akar controls an infinitive when both actions share a subject; a different subject requires hogy plus subjunctive.
- The infinitive's object controls agreement on finite akar.
- Direct desire is neutral in personal plans but can be forceful when used as a service request.
- A prefix before akar belongs to the infinitive and climbs in neutral affirmative order.
- Preserve akarnék for first-person singular indefinite conditional; akarnák is a different person and paradigm.
Now practice Hungarian
Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.
Start learning Hungarian →Related Topics
- tud: Complete Conjugation and UsageA1 — Conjugate tud and distinguish factual knowledge, ability infinitives, object definiteness, personal infinitives, and polite requests.
- kell, lehet, szabad, tud, akar, and szeretne: Forms and Core PatternA2 — Build Hungarian necessity, possibility, permission, ability, and desire constructions with the correct finite verb, infinitive, and object conjugation.
- kell, lehet, szabad, tud, akar, and szeretne: Meanings and UsageA2 — Choose natural Hungarian expressions for necessity, possibility, permission, ability, desire, and polite requests in everyday and formal settings.
- The Infinitive in -ni: Forms and Core PatternA1 — Build Hungarian -ni infinitives, recognize linking-vowel and irregular forms, and understand their basic control and personal endings.
- Infinitive Chains and Verbal Prefix Placement: Forms and Core PatternB1 — Build Hungarian infinitive chains with fog, akar, kell, and tud while placing verbal prefixes according to finiteness, focus, and negation.
- Requests, Commands, Offers, and Invitations: Meanings and UsageA2 — Choose Hungarian directive and hospitality formulas according to urgency, burden, relationship, and the addressee's freedom to respond.