Hungarian Sentence Structure

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One of the most difficult aspects of learning Hungarian for speakers of English is the different sentence structure. Not only are verbs conjugated, prefixes and suffixes are often added. There are two sets of verbs, definite and indefinite, and their use can be confusing. The word order in Hungarian sentences can be the exact opposite of English with the verb usually at the end. Not to mention the accusative marker, and many other grammatical devices that are not used in English.

In the examples below, a sentence in Hungarian is first translated literally, word for word, and then the equivalent meaning in English is presented.

A bátyám mindig ellenállt az igazságtalanságnak.

the elder-brother-my always resisted the injustice-for

My older brother has always stood up to injustice.

A beszélgetésük fájt neki.

the conversation-theirs was-painful for-him/her.

Their conversation was painful for him/her.

A bor a szőlő levéből készül.

the wine the grape juice-its develops

Wine is made out of grape juice.

A család mindenkinek más.

the family everybody-for different

Family is different for everyone.

A csoki a gyengém.

the chocolate the weak-my

Chocolate is my weakness.

A csokit szinte mindenki szereti.

the chocolate almost everyone likes-it

Almost everyone likes chocolate.

A fák a gyökereiken keresztül táplálkoznak.

the trees root-theirs-on through nourish-they

Trees nourish themselves through their roots.

A kisbaba az anyukája után nyúlt.

the baby the mother-his/her after reached

The baby reached for his/her mother.

A kutyám nagyon szereti a gyerekeket.

the dog-my very loves-them the children-(acc)

My dog really loves children.

A legjobb, amikor tavasszal beindul a fagyiszezon.

the best, when spring-on starts the ice-cream-season

The best thing is when the ice-cream season starts in spring.

A munka fontos, de nem minden.

the work important, but not everything

Work is important but it’s not everything.

A vállamon hordom a világot.

the shoulder-my-on carry-it-I the world-(acc.)

I carry the world on my shoulder.

A város határai mögött látni a dombokat.

the city borders-its behind to-see the hills

Behind the city limits you can see the hills.

Aki keres, talál.

who searches, finds

Those who seek shall find.

Amíg utazom, kiadom a lakásom, hogy legyen egy kis bevételem.

until travel-I, rent-out-I the flat-mine, so-that shall-be a little income-my

I rent out my flat for the time I travel, so that I have a little bit of income.

Az utcán egy nagy kutya ugatott rám.

the street-on a big dog barked on-me

A big dog barked at me on the street.

Azért tanulok magyarul, mert keresem a magyar gyökereim.

that’s-why learn-I Hungarian, because search-I the Hungarian roots-my

I’m learning Hungarian because I want to connect with my Hungarian roots.

Azt álmodtam, hogy tudok repülni.

that dreamed-I, that can-I to-fly

I dreamed that I could fly.

Azt kívánom, hogy minden ember legyen boldog.

that(acc.) wish-it-I that every human shall-be happy.

I wish for everybody to be happy.

Csak egy kortyot kérek.

only one sip-(acc) want-I

I just want one sip.

Egy korty víz nem fogja elvenni a szomjamat.

one sip water not will-it away-take the thirst-my-(acc)

One sip of water won’t quench my thirst.

Este tíz után már nem adják ki az alkoholt a belvárosi boltokban.

evening ten after anymore not give-they out the alcohol-(acc.) the inner-city-ish stores-in

The inner-city stores don’t sell alcohol after ten o’ clock at night.

Fáj a fejem.

is-hurting the head-my

My head hurts.

Jó napot kívánok!

Good day-(acc.) wish-I

Good afternoon!/(I wish you a) good day!

Keresem a helyes utat.

search-I-it the right way-(acc.)

I’m looking for the right way.

Kérsz még levet?

want-you more juice-(acc.)

Do you want more juice?

Ma reggel láttam egy nyulat a mezőn.

today morning saw-I a rabbit-(acc.) the meadow-on

I saw a rabbit on the meadow this morning.

Más hajszínt szeretnék.

other hair-color-(acc.) like-would-I

I’d like to have different hair color.

Magyarországon nincsenek hegyek, csak dombok.

Hungary-on not-exist(pl.) mountains, only hills

There are no mountains in Hungary, only hills.

Május elseje a munka ünnepe.

May first the work celebration-its.

May 1st is International Workers’ Day.

Még mindig bánt a veszekedésünk.

yet always hurts the fight-ours

I still hurt from our fight.

Minden emlékem ebben a dobozban van.

every memory-my this-in the box-in is

All of my memories are in this box.

Minden embernek egyedi tehetsége van.

every human-for unique skill-theirs exists

Everyone possesses a unique skill.

Mit ettél reggelire?

what ate-you breakfast-onto

What did you have for breakfast?

Mit vettél a boltban?

what bought-you the store-in

What did you buy in the store?

Nagyon egyedi a stílusod.

very unique the style-yours

Your style is very unique.

Ne bántsd a testvéredet!

not hurt-you(imp.) the sister-your-(acc.)

Stop hurting your sister!

Ne legyél már ekkora gyökér!

not be-you already this-big root

Don’t be such a moron!

Neked írom a dalt.

for-you write-it-I the song-(acc.)

I write the song for you

Nem tudok ellenállni a kísértéseknek.

not can-I resist the temptations-for

I can’t resist temptations.

Nem vagyunk egyformák, de egyenlőek lehetünk.

not are-we similar(pl.), but equal can-we-be

We’re not the same but we can be equal.

Nyolcvan hatalmas doboz kellett a költözésünkhöz.

eighty giant box was-needed the move-ours-for

We needed eighty giant boxes for our move.

Sajnos nem mindenki indul egyenlő esélyekkel.

unfortunately not everyone starts equal chances-with

Unfortunately, not everyone starts out with equal chances.

Szoktál álmodni?

do-you-usually to-dream

Do you dream regularly?

Van, hogy csak délben eszek reggelit.

exists, that only noon-in eat-I breakfast-(acc.)

Sometimes I don’t have breakfast until noon.

Veszek még egy kekszet.

buy-I yet one biscuit.

I’ll buy another biscuit.

Coming Soon!