a
[ɒ]
The English word 'the' is translated into Hungarian as a or az.
Meaning: article (article)
Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| a | [ɒ] (narrow) | |
| az | [ˈɒz] (narrow) | before vowel |
Which one should you use?
The form a is used when the following word begins with a consonant. The form az must be used if the following word begins with a vowel.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use a before a consonant and az before a vowel.
Did you know?
- The Hungarian article az is actually a descendant of a Proto-Uralic word meaning 'that' or 'that other'.
- The word az can function as both a definite article and a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that'.
- Because the choice between a and az depends on the next word's starting sound, the article can change based on an adjective or even an adverb in the sentence.
Examples in context
- Mi a ló neve?What's the horse's name?This sentence shows how to use a when asking for a name.Tatoeba #3343819 by mraz, translation #3343806 by Hybrid
- Mi a szar ez?What the fuck is that?This sentence demonstrates a in a vulgar expression.Tatoeba #3496341 by mraz, translation #1745828 by Spamster
- És mi a gond?And what is the problem?This sentence illustrates the use of a when asking about a problem.Tatoeba #4325574 by mraz, translation #3318439 by Vanilla
- Az autóThe car
- A(z) almaThe apple
- Ez a pohárThis glass
- Az asztalThe table
- 18067 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anna and László are looking at a menu in a cafe.
- AnnaA kávé nagyon jó.The coffee is very good.
- LászlóÉs a süti is finom.And the cake is also delicious.
- AnnaA számlát kérhetünk?Can we ask for the bill?
- LászlóIgen, a pincét hívom.Yes, I am calling the waiter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “the” translations and entries a, az, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, az, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
