ha a nagyanyámnak kereke volna, gurulna

Hungarian

Alternative forms

  • Instead of “a nagyanyámnak” (“[to] my grandmother”), the following variants also occur: nagyanyámnak (without article), (a) nagymamámnak, (az) öreganyámnak (also “[to] my grandmother”) as well as (a) nénikémnek, (a) nagynénikémnek (“[to] my aunt”). A nagypapámnak (“[to] my grandfather”) occurs with talicska (wheelbarrow).
  • Before “kereke volna” (“had wheels”), the numerals négy (“4”) or hat (“6”) can occur.
  • After the comma, akkor (“then”) can occur without any change in meaning.
  • Instead of “gurulna”, ő volna/lenne/lehetne a villamos/trolibusz/gőzmozdony or ő volna/lenne/lehetne az omnibusz (“she would/could be a tram/trolley-bus/steam-locomotive/omnibus”) are also possible, as well as omnibusznak neveznék (“she would be called an omnibus”).

Etymology

ha (if) + a (the) + nagyanya (grandmother) + -m (my, first-person singular possessive suffix) + -nak (to, dative suffix) + kerék (wheel) + -e (her, third-person singular possessive suffix) + volna (there would be) + gurul (roll) + -na (would, conditional suffix).

Literally: "If my grandmother had a wheel [or: wheels], she would roll."

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈhɒɒ ˈnɒɟɒɲaːmnɒk ˈkɛrɛkɛvolnɒ ˈɡurulnɒ]

Phrase

ha a nagyanyámnak kereke volna, gurulna

  1. (idiomatic) if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle (there is no point in discussing unreal and/or impossible scenarios)
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