Breakdown of A mentőmellény vízálló.
az
the
mentőmellény
a life jacket
vízálló
waterproof or water-resistant
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Questions & Answers about A mentőmellény vízálló.
Why is there no word for is in A mentőmellény vízálló?
In Hungarian, the verb to be is usually left out in the present tense, third person when you are making a simple statement.
So:
- A mentőmellény vízálló. = The life jacket is waterproof.
But in other persons, Hungarian does use the verb:
- Vízálló vagyok. = I am waterproof.
- Vízálló vagy. = You are waterproof.
- Vízálló. = He/she/it is waterproof.
This omission is very normal in Hungarian and is one of the first things English speakers notice.
What does a mean here, and why is it a rather than az?
A is the Hungarian definite article, equivalent to the.
Hungarian has two forms of the:
- a before a consonant sound
- az before a vowel sound
Since mentőmellény begins with m, a consonant, the sentence uses:
- a mentőmellény = the life jacket
Compare:
- az alma = the apple
- a kabát = the coat
Why does vízálló come after mentőmellény?