THE VERB SZOKIK

The verb szokik can be used as modal verb when talking about: usually, never or Present Tense. In this function, it must be conjugated in past tense, but it expresses generalization. It requires the infinitive of the main verb. Formation:

Reggel iskolába szoktam menni.
I usually go to school in the morning.

Nem szoktam reggelizni.
I never have breakfast.

Nem szoktak alkoholt inni.
They don’t drink alcohol.

Kétnaponta szoktam borotválkozni.
I shave every other day.

Sokat szoktam tanulni.
I usually study a lot.

Szoktál néha bulizni?
Do you go to a party sometimes?

Strandra is szoktunk menni nyáron.
We also go to the beach in summer.

Mikor szoktatok felkelni?
When do you guys usually get up?

I know it looks strange :). Just remember when szokik expresses generalization, it must be in past tense! It can’t be always translated because English uses Present Tense many times.

It is a frequent verb in this function in the spoken language.

VOCABULARY IN THIS ENTRY:

reggelizik to have breakfast
iszik to drink
alkohol alcohol
borotválkozik to shave (one’s face)
tanul to study
bulizik to party (SLANG WORD) > original noun: buli party
strand beach
megy to go
nyár summer > nyáron in summer
felkel to get up

NOTE! These verbs (reggelizik, iszik, bulizik, borotválkozik) are -ik verbs, so they refer back to the person. Let me show you an example why it is important.

borotva = razor
borotvál = to shave (something)
borotválkozik = to shave (oneself)

Leborotválom a szomszéd macskáját, aztán én is megborotválkozom.
I’ll shave the neighbour’s cat, then I’ll shave, too.

See ya! 🙂