iszik: Complete Conjugation and Usage

Iszik means “drink” and behaves like eszik in two important ways: it is a traditional -ik verb, and its stem changes dramatically across the paradigm. The present uses isz- and i-, the past uses itt- and iv-, the infinitive and conditional use inn-, the imperative–subjunctive uses igy-, and the present participle uses iv-.

English speakers must also distinguish “drink coffee” from “drink the coffee.” Hungarian uses indefinite conjugation with a bare substance or an indefinite serving, but definite conjugation with an identified drink. A bottle, glass, source, or occasion may introduce yet another case frame.

See the guide to -ik verbs for the wider inflectional pattern. The tables here isolate the exceptional stems and complement choices of iszik.

Principal parts and stem map

Present indicative and -ik variation

The careful standard first-person indefinite form is iszom. Iszok is widespread in informal conversation as the productive non-ik form, but iszom remains the safest form in edited prose and formal speech. With a definite object, the first-person form is iszom regardless.

The definite forms issza, isszuk, isszátok, isszák contain long ssz. In isztok, by contrast, the spelling is single sz plus t. Preserve the multigraph sz as one consonant unit.

Past and conditional

Most past forms use itt-, while third-person singular indefinite is ivott. The conditional consistently uses inn-. Several plural conditional forms look identical across conjugations; definiteness is nevertheless part of the grammatical structure.

Future meaning usually comes from the present plus a time phrase (Este csak vizet iszom) or from fog + inni (Este csak vizet fogok inni). An explicit definite object makes the auxiliary definite: Meg fogom inni a teát.

The personal infinitive forms are innom, innod, innia, innunk, innotok, inniuk. Despite the front vowel i, these endings belong to the back-vowel series and must be learned with the verb.

Imperative–subjunctive

The imperative stem is igy-, with the Hungarian consonant gy. For a definite drink, the normal short 2sg command is idd. Neutral third-person indefinite is igyon; traditional igyék can occur in careful/formal polite address.

Objects and case frames

A beverage as substance is commonly an indefinite accusative: vizet iszik, kávét iszik. A serving introduced by egy is also indefinite: egy kávét iszik. A uniquely identified beverage triggers definite conjugation: a kávét issza, ezt issza.

The container or source often takes the elative -ból/-ből: pohárból, palackból, a csapból. This phrase is not the direct object, so it does not by itself trigger definite conjugation. Valamire iszik uses the sublative in the special toast frame “drink to something”; valakivel iszik uses the instrumental-comitative for a drinking companion.

In contexts about alcohol, objectless iszik can mean “drinks alcohol,” sometimes implying a habit: Azóta nem iszik “He hasn’t drunk alcohol since then.” The implication depends on context; the verb itself is not marked as informal.

Prefixes, completion, and word order

Megiszik presents a quantity as consumed to completion. Kiissza often means “drink all of something out of a container,” while beleiszik means “take a drink from” a container or another person’s drink. These are related but distinct lexical verbs.

In a neutral affirmative clause the prefix precedes the finite verb. Negation, prohibition, and preverbal focus move it after the verb.

Common Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Learn the alternating stems isz- / i-, itt- / iv-, inn-, and igy-.
• Prefer iszom in careful standard usage; recognize widespread informal iszok.
• Bare beverages and egy phrases take indefinite conjugation; identified accusative drinks take definite conjugation.
• Use -ból/-ből for a source or container and -ra/-re for the special “drink to” toast frame.
• A prefix precedes the verb in neutral affirmative order but follows it under negation or preverbal focus.