Az állatorvos idén itt dolgozik.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a
• az

You use az before a word that begins with a vowel sound, and a before a word that begins with a consonant sound.

So:

• az állatorvos = the veterinarian
• a ház = the house

Since állatorvos starts with á, a vowel, az is required.

Állatorvos literally breaks down as:

• állat = animal
• orvos = doctor

So it is literally animal doctor, which is the normal Hungarian word for veterinarian / vet.

This kind of compound noun is very common in Hungarian.

Because the verb dolgozik already means works / is working.

Hungarian does not need an extra verb like English is here. In English, we often say:

• The vet is working here this year.

But Hungarian simply uses the present tense verb:

• dolgozik = works / is working

So Az állatorvos idén itt dolgozik is a complete sentence without any extra word for is.

Dolgozik is the 3rd person singular present tense form of dolgozni (to work).

It matches the subject:

• az állatorvos = the veterinarian = he/she/the veterinarian

Some present-tense forms of dolgozni are:

• én dolgozom = I work
• te dolgozol = you work
• ő dolgozik = he/she works
• mi dolgozunk = we work
• ti dolgoztok = you all work
• ők dolgoznak = they work

So dolgozik is used because the subject is a single third-person noun.

It can mean both, depending on context.

Hungarian present tense often covers both:

• works
• is working

So this sentence could be understood as:

• The veterinarian works here this year
• The veterinarian is working here this year

In natural English, is working here this year often sounds better because idén (this year) suggests a temporary situation.

Idén means this year.

It is a very common time expression. You do not need a separate preposition like in.

Compare:

• idén = this year
• tavaly = last year
• jövőre = next year

So:

• Idén itt dolgozik. = He/She is working here this year.

A longer alternative is ebben az évben, which also means in this year / this year, but idén is shorter and very common.

Because itt means here as a location, while ide means to here / hereward, showing motion toward a place.

• itt = here
• ide = to here

So:

• Az állatorvos itt dolgozik. = The veterinarian works here.
• Az állatorvos ide jön. = The veterinarian comes here.

Since working describes location, not motion, itt is correct.

No, Hungarian word order is flexible, but different orders change the focus or emphasis.

This sentence is a neutral, natural order:

• Az állatorvos idén itt dolgozik.

It presents the topic az állatorvos first, then gives new information.

Other orders are possible, for example:

• Az állatorvos itt dolgozik idén.
• Idén az állatorvos itt dolgozik.
• Itt dolgozik az állatorvos idén.

These are not all equally neutral. Hungarian word order often shows what is being emphasized, not just grammatical relations.

A simple learner rule:

• the basic meaning stays similar,
• but the part placed before the verb often gets stronger focus.

In this sentence, it means the veterinarian.

Hungarian a / az is usually the definite article the.

Hungarian also has separate words for this and that, such as:

• ez az állatorvos = this veterinarian
• az az állatorvos = that veterinarian

So in your sentence, az állatorvos should simply be understood as the veterinarian.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• állatorvos ≈ AAH-la-tor-vosh

A few useful points:

• á is a long vowel, longer than a
• ll is pronounced as a long l
• s in Hungarian sounds like English sh
• sz sounds like English s, but there is no sz in this word

So the end -orvos sounds roughly like orvosh.

Also, Hungarian stress normally falls on the first syllable:

• ÁL-la-tor-vos

Roughly:

• idén ≈ ee-DAYN
• itt ≈ eet
• dolgozik ≈ DOL-go-zik

A few details:

• i is like ee in see, but shorter
• é is a long vowel, somewhat like ay in say
• tt is a long t
• z is like English z
• stress is usually on the first syllable: DOL-go-zik

So the full sentence is roughly:

• Az ÁL-la-tor-vosh ee-DAYN eet DOL-go-zik

Yes, very much. They are part of the spelling and pronunciation, and they can change meaning.

In this sentence:

• á in állatorvos is longer than a
• tt in itt is a long consonant

Hungarian distinguishes between short and long sounds, so learners should try to notice them early.

For example, vowel length can change words entirely in Hungarian, so a and á are not just minor spelling variants.

Usually, no, not in normal neutral speech if you mean the veterinarian.

Hungarian commonly uses the definite article where English would use the:

• Az állatorvos idén itt dolgozik.

If you drop the article, the sentence may sound unnatural or as if you are speaking in a special style, headline style, or using the noun in a different way.

So for an ordinary sentence, keep az.

It most naturally suggests a temporary or time-limited situation because of idén (this year).

So it sounds like:

• The veterinarian is working here this year
• maybe not necessarily forever
• maybe only for this year, or at least this year in particular

Without idén, the sentence would be more general:

• Az állatorvos itt dolgozik. = The veterinarian works here / is working here.

Adding idén narrows it to this year specifically.