Saying where: in, on, and at

Hungarian has no word for 'in' or 'on' — it adds a suffix to the noun instead. -ban/-ben means 'inside': a házban ('in the house'). -on/-en/-ön means 'on a surface, or at': az asztalon ('on the table'). A third set, -nál/-nél, means 'at someone's place or business': Péternél ('at Péter's').

Which set a place takes is not always predictable from English. Hungary and most Hungarian towns take the surface set, even though English says 'in': Budapesten ('in Budapest'), Magyarországon ('in Hungary') — never Budapestben. Foreign countries and cities mostly take the interior set: Londonban, Angliában. Learn each place's set as you meet it.