Kérem, mutassa meg a könyvet!

Please, show me the book!

Breakdown of Kérem, mutassa meg a könyvet!

• könyv: the book
• kérem: please
• megmutatni: to show

Questions & Answers about Kérem, mutassa meg a könyvet!

Why is it mutassa and not mutasd or mutasson?

Because this is the polite/formal “you.” In Hungarian, when you address someone politely (with Ön), the verb takes 3rd-person forms. On top of that, the object (a könyvet) is definite, so you need the definite imperative/subjunctive ending.

• Informal 2nd-singular (to a friend): Mutasd meg a könyvet!
• Polite 2nd-singular (to a stranger): Mutassa meg a könyvet!
• Polite 2nd-plural (to multiple people): Mutassák meg a könyvet!
• If the object were indefinite (e.g., “a book”), the polite form would be Mutasson egy könyvet! (indefinite conjugation).

Why is the particle meg after the verb (mutassa meg) instead of before it?

Hungarian verbal prefixes (like meg) normally come before the verb in neutral statements, but they move after the verb in imperatives, negation, and some focus structures.

• Neutral statement: Megmutatja a könyvet.
• Imperative: Mutassa meg a könyvet!
• Negative imperative: Ne mutassa meg a könyvet!

What does meg add here?

Meg makes the action perfective/complete and often more result-oriented. With mutat, it’s the natural way to say “show (so that I can actually see it).” Without meg, mutat can sound like “point/show” in a more ongoing or neutral sense. In requests like this, megmutat is the idiomatic choice.

Why is it a könyvet and not just a könyv?

Direct objects take the accusative suffix -t. The word könyv inserts a linking vowel to take the suffix, becoming könyvet. So:

• Nominative: a könyv (the book)
• Accusative: a könyvet (the book as a direct object)

Why is the article a and not az?

Hungarian uses a before a consonant-initial word and az before a vowel-initial word. Since könyvet starts with a consonant (k), it’s a könyvet. If the noun started with a vowel, you’d use az.

Do I need to say “to me,” like nekem?

Not necessarily. In context, “show (me) the book” is understood to mean “show it to me.” If you want to make it explicit, you can add the dative:

• Mutassa meg nekem a könyvet! Both Mutassa meg a könyvet! and Mutassa meg nekem a könyvet! are fine; the latter is just more explicit.

Where can I put kérem? Does it always go first?

Kérem is a polite parenthetical (“please”). It can go at the start or the end, typically set off by a comma:

• Kérem, mutassa meg a könyvet!
• Mutassa meg a könyvet, kérem. Both are natural. You’ll also hear Kérem szépen (“please (kindly)”) in the same positions.

Is kérem the same as kérek or legyen szíves?

• Kérem = literally “I ask it,” but used as “please.” It can stand alone as a politeness marker.
• Kérek = “I’d like/I request,” used when asking for something directly: Kérek egy kávét. Not used as a standalone “please.”
• Legyen szíves = “Would you be so kind,” a very polite request formula: Legyen szíves, mutassa meg a könyvet!

How do I say this informally to a friend?

Use 2nd-person informal imperative:

• Mutasd meg a könyvet! You can add informal “please”: Kérlek, mutasd meg a könyvet! or colloquial Légy szíves/Légyszi, mutasd meg a könyvet!

How can I make the request more indirect or extra polite?

Use a conditional or a “could you” structure:

• Megmutatná nekem a könyvet, kérem? (Would you show me the book, please?)
• Meg tudná mutatni nekem a könyvet, kérem? (Could you show me the book, please?) These sound very courteous and are common in service contexts.

How do I negate it politely? (“Please don’t show the book.”)

Use ne for negative imperative, and the particle still follows the verb:

• Kérem, ne mutassa meg a könyvet.

What if I’m speaking to more than one person politely?

Use the 3rd-person plural polite imperative:

• Kérem, mutassák meg a könyvet! (addressing multiple people with Önök)

Can I put the object first for emphasis?

Yes. Putting the object in focus before the verb emphasizes that specific item:

• A könyvet mutassa meg! (The book is what I want you to show.) The particle remains after the verb in this focused imperative.

Could I drop meg and just say Mutassa a könyvet?

You could say Mutassa a könyvet, but in requests of this type mutassa meg is far more idiomatic and natural. Without meg, it may feel less like “show it (so I can see it fully)” and more like “be showing it/point it out,” depending on context.

What’s the difference between megmutat and bemutat?

• Megmutat = “show” (so someone can see/inspect it).
• Bemutat = “introduce/present” (e.g., introduce a person, present a product/performance). So:
• Mutassa meg a könyvet! = Show the book (let me see it).
• Mutassa be a könyvet! = Present the book (e.g., give a presentation/intro about it).

Why the exclamation mark?

Imperatives often take an exclamation mark in Hungarian writing. A period is also possible for a softer tone, but the exclamation mark is standard with direct commands/requests.

How is everything pronounced?

• Kérem: stress on the first syllable; long é in ké.
• Mutassa: stress on mu; double ss is a long “sh” sound.
• Meg: short e.
• Könyvet: stress on kö; ö as in French “deux”; ny is a palatal “ny” (like Spanish ñ). All Hungarian words are stressed on the first syllable.

What’s going on with “definite vs. indefinite” here?

Hungarian verb endings agree with the definiteness of the object.

• Definite object (e.g., a könyvet, “the book”): use definite conjugation → Mutassa meg a könyvet!
• Indefinite object (e.g., egy könyvet, “a book”) or no object: use indefinite conjugation → Mutasson (egy könyvet)!

This affects the imperative endings you choose.

Why is there a comma after Kérem?

Kérem here is a parenthetical politeness marker (“please”). In writing, it’s separated by a comma: Kérem, …. You can also put it after the request: …, kérem.