A támogatás segíti a futókat.

Both a words are the Hungarian definite article, meaning the.

• A támogatás = the support
• a futókat = the runners (as the object)

Hungarian uses:

• a before a consonant
• az before a vowel

So:

• a támogatás because támogatás starts with t
• a futókat because futókat starts with f

You would use az in phrases like az ember (the person).

Hungarian verbs often have two sets of forms:

• indefinite conjugation
• definite conjugation

Here the object is definite: a futókat = the runners, so Hungarian uses the definite verb form.

• segít = helps with no definite object, or with an indefinite one
• segíti = helps it / helps him / helps her / helps the ..., with a definite object

So in this sentence:

• A támogatás segíti a futókat.

the form segíti is used because a futókat is definite.

Because Hungarian verbs agree with the subject, not with the object.

In this sentence, the subject is:

• A támogatás = the support

That is singular, so the verb is singular too.

The object is plural:

• a futókat = the runners

That affects the noun form, but it does not make the verb plural. The verb only shows:

• the subject’s person/number
• and, in this kind of sentence, whether the object is definite

Futókat has three parts:

• futó = runner
• -k = plural marker
• -at / -t = accusative marker, showing the direct object

So:

• futó = runner
• futók = runners
• futókat = runners (as the object)

The extra a before the final t is a linking vowel, which makes the word easier to pronounce and matches vowel harmony.

The basic form is futó.

It comes from the verb:

• fut = to run

The ending -ó can form a kind of participle or noun meaning one who is doing the action. So:

• fut = run
• futó = running one / runner

In everyday Hungarian, futó is a normal noun meaning runner.

Támogatás is a noun meaning support, assistance, aid, or sometimes funding / subsidy / sponsorship, depending on context.

It is related to the verb:

• támogat = to support

The ending -ás / -és often turns a verb into a noun referring to the action or result of the action.

So:

• támogat = to support
• támogatás = support, supporting, assistance

In Hungarian, case endings usually attach to the noun, not to the article.

So the article stays simple:

• a

but the noun changes:

• a futó = the runner
• a futók = the runners
• a futókat = the runners (object)

This is different from some Indo-European languages where articles may also change. In Hungarian, the noun does most of that grammatical work.

Hungarian word order is more flexible than English word order.

This sentence:

• A támogatás segíti a futókat.

is a natural neutral order, with A támogatás as the topic.

But other orders are possible, with a different emphasis. For example:

• A futókat segíti a támogatás.

This still means roughly the same thing, but it puts more attention on the runners.

So in Hungarian, word order is not only about grammar; it is also about focus and emphasis.

A rough English-style pronunciation is:

aw TAA-mo-go-taash SHEH-ghee-tee aw FOO-toe-kot

A few useful points:

• stress is on the first syllable of each word
• s in Hungarian sounds like English sh
• g is always a hard g
• long vowels like á, í, ó are held longer than short vowels

So:

• támogatás ends with a sh sound
• segíti starts with seh-
• futókat has a long ó

Yes, very much. In Hungarian, accents mostly show vowel length (and in some cases vowel quality), and they are an important part of spelling and pronunciation.

In this sentence:

• á
• í
• ó

are all long vowels.

So:

• támogatás
• segíti
• futókat

must be written with those accents. Leaving them out would be incorrect, and sometimes it can even change the word or make it harder to understand.