Articles & this/that
Ez / az (this / that)
Section titled “Ez / az (this / that)”Like English, ez (this) points near and az (that) points far — in space or time. Usage differs slightly: ez is used more in Hungarian than this is in English. Familiarity comes from input.
The pattern English speakers always miss: pointing at a specific noun requires the demonstrative and the definite article, together:
- Ez a kutya. — This dog.
- Ez az alma. — This apple.
- Az a fa. — That tree.
- Az az óra. — That clock.
Yes, az az óra is correct — the first az is that, the second is the.
They also introduce new information (no verb needed where English has is):
Ez egy macska.
This is a cat.
Mi ez? Ez egy asztal.
What's this? This is a table.
Here egy only appears to stress there is just one.
Articles
Section titled “Articles”Egy is the indefinite article (and also the number one). A/az is the definite article: a before consonants, az before vowels — same idea as English a/an, but for the.
- a kutya — the dog · az autó — the car
- egy virág — a flower · egy óra — a clock
As soon as a newly introduced noun becomes known to the conversation, it switches from egy to a/az.
Where Hungarian uses the definite article and English doesn’t
Section titled “Where Hungarian uses the definite article and English doesn’t”Abstract nouns:
- az élet — life · a zene — music · a szabadság — freedom
Generalizations and category statements:
- A macska állat. — Cats are animals.
- A magyarok pálinkát isznak. — Hungarians drink pálinka.
- Az egerek futnak. — Mice run.
Institutions and named places (listen for it on public transport):
- A következő megálló a Hősök tere. — The next stop is Heroes’ Square.
- Sok ember van a Váci utcában. — There are many people on Váci Street.
Where Hungarian drops the article and English doesn’t
Section titled “Where Hungarian drops the article and English doesn’t”Wherever English uses an indefinite article for quantity-irrelevant statements, and for dates and occupations:
- Nyelvtanár vagyok. — I am a language teacher.
- Tűz van! — There’s a fire!
- Ma március 23. van. — Today is March the 23rd.
- Kérsz kólát? — Would you like some coke?
Itt van Éva, ő titkárnő. Keres egy tűzőgépet.
Here is Éva, she is a secretary. She is looking for a stapler.