Fut centrally means “run,” but it also describes machines and software operating, processes continuing, and resources being sufficient in futja valamire. Its short-vowel t stem produces past futott and an assimilated imperative fuss. Most motion uses are intransitive; bounded prefixed uses can take a distance or area as an object.
This page integrates the full paradigm with path expressions, aspect, abstract meanings, and prefix position. Unlabeled forms are neutral standard Hungarian. For the larger inventory of Hungarian motion frames, see motion expressions.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present 3sg | Past 3sg | Imperative 2sg | Conditional 3sg | Present participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| futni | fut | futott | fuss; fusd | futna | futó |
Third-person past needs -ott, while person-marked forms use futott-. In the imperative, t + j yields ss: fuss, fusson, fussunk. Definite second-person short fusd is needed only when a transitive prefixed use has an identified object.
Hétköznap hajnalban futok, amikor még alig van forgalom.
On weekdays I run at dawn, when there is hardly any traffic yet.
Present: mostly intransitive, sometimes bounded and transitive
| Person | Indefinite | Definite |
|---|---|---|
| én | futok | futom |
| te | futsz | futod |
| ő / ön | fut | futja |
| mi | futunk | futjuk |
| ti | futtok | futjátok |
| ők / önök | futnak | futják |
The definite series is uncommon with bare athletic fut, but productive with bounded lefut/befut/átfut plus an identified route, distance, area, or text.
A csapat minden kedden hat kilométert fut a folyóparton.
The team runs six kilometers along the river every Tuesday.
A tapasztaltabb versenyzők húsz perc alatt lefutják az öt kilométert.
The more experienced competitors run the five kilometers in twenty minutes.
The first distance is an indefinite measure and the verb is fut. The second presents a bounded, identified course and selects definite lefutják.
Past and conditional
| Person | Past indefinite | Past definite | Conditional indefinite | Conditional definite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| én | futottam | futottam | futnék | futnám |
| te | futottál | futottad | futnál | futnád |
| ő / ön | futott | futotta | futna | futná |
| mi | futottunk | futottuk | futnánk | futnánk |
| ti | futottatok | futottátok | futnátok | futnátok |
| ők / önök | futottak | futották | futnának | futnák |
Tegnap a zápor miatt csak a fedett pályán futottunk.
Yesterday we ran only on the indoor track because of the downpour.
Szívesen futnék veletek, de még fáj a bokám.
I'd gladly run with you, but my ankle still hurts.
Ezt az útvonalat sötétedés után nem futnám végig egyedül.
I wouldn't run this route all the way through alone after dark.
The last has definite ezt az útvonalat and a separated végig, so futnám is definite.
The analytic future places agreement on fog: futni fogok egy kört, but le fogom futni a kijelölt távot.
Imperative–subjunctive
| Person | Indefinite | Definite |
|---|---|---|
| én | fussak | fussam |
| te | fuss / fussál | fusd / fussad |
| ő / ön | fusson | fussa |
| mi | fussunk | fussuk |
| ti | fussatok | fussátok |
| ők / önök | fussanak | fussák |
Long fussál/fussad is conversational and can add insistence; short fuss/fusd is neutral.
Fuss át a zebrán, amíg zöld a lámpa!
Run across the crossing while the light is green! (informal)
Fusd le még egyszer az utolsó kört egyenletes tempóban!
Run the final lap once more at an even pace! (informal coaching)
Az edző azt kérte, hogy az első kilométeren lassabban fussunk.
The coach asked us to run more slowly during the first kilometer.
Infinitive and participles
The infinitive is futni; personal forms are futnom, futnod, futnia, futnunk, futnotok, futniuk.
A vonat indulásáig még a pénztárhoz is el kell futnom.
I still have to run to the ticket office before the train leaves.
| Form | Function | Example phrase |
|---|---|---|
| futó | running; runner; current | futó projekt |
| futott | having run; established/promoted | sokat futott műsor |
| futandó | to be run | futandó táv |
| futva | while running; hurriedly | futva érkezik |
A jelenleg futó kutatási projekt jövő tavasszal zárul.
The research project currently under way ends next spring. (academic)
A versenyzők térképen is megkapták a futandó útvonalat.
The competitors also received the route to be run on a map. (formal/sporting context)
Path and distance frames
Location of running takes a static case; destination takes a directional case; traversed routes commonly use -on/-en/-ön, át, végig, or an accusative bounded path.
| Relation | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| activity location | a parkban fut | runs in the park |
| destination | az állomásra fut | runs to the station |
| route | átfut a hídon | runs across the bridge |
| bounded distance | lefutja a maratont | runs/completes the marathon |
A kutya kiszaladt a kapun, és egészen a sarokig futott.
The dog ran out through the gate and all the way to the corner.
Prefixes and abstract meanings
Elfut runs away, befut runs/arrives in or becomes successful, kifut runs out or expires, lefut runs down/completes, átfut runs across or scans a text, and nekifut starts a run or makes an attempt.
A támogatási program év végén kifut, ezért most kell beadni a kérelmet.
The funding program expires at the end of the year, so the application must be submitted now. (formal)
Még egyszer átfutom a levelet, mielőtt elküldöm.
I'll scan through the letter once more before sending it.
Nem futottam át a mellékleteket, ezért nem vettem észre a hibát.
I didn't look through the attachments, so I didn't notice the error.
Melyik fejezetet futottad át ilyen gyorsan?
Which chapter did you scan through so quickly?
Negation and focused melyik fejezetet separate át from the finite verb.
Bare fut also means “operate/run” and occurs in the impersonal affordability frame futja valamire.
A régi könyvelőprogram csak ezen a számítógépen fut.
The old accounting program runs only on this computer.
A keretből idén nem futja új bútorokra.
The budget cannot stretch to new furniture this year.
In futja, the form is fixed third-person singular and the available source is often -ból/-ből; the intended expense takes -ra/-re.
Common Mistakes
❌ Minden reggel öt kilométerre futok.
Incorrect for distance covered: use accusative öt kilométert.
✅ Minden reggel öt kilométert futok.
I run five kilometers every morning.
❌ Tegnap tíz kilométert futtam.
Incorrect past stem: fut has futott-.
✅ Tegnap tíz kilométert futottam.
I ran ten kilometers yesterday.
❌ Fusd át a zebrán!
Incorrect object form for an intransitive path: use indefinite fuss.
✅ Fuss át a zebrán!
Run across the crossing!
⚠️ Nem átfutottam a szerződést.
Possible only under corrective contrast; neutral negation separates át.
✅ Nem futottam át a szerződést.
I didn't scan through the contract.
Key Takeaways
- Learn fut – futott – fuss – futni and retain the doubled consonants.
- Core motion is intransitive, but a bounded route or text can license definite prefixed forms.
- Separate activity location, destination, route, and distance rather than translating English prepositions directly.
- Abstract fut covers operation and process; futja valamire expresses sufficient resources.
- Negation and focus can separate a prefix while its lexical meaning remains active.
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