Megpirítjuk a fokhagymát.

Because Hungarian is using the definite conjugation here.

The object is a fokhagymát = the garlic, which is definite, so the verb takes a definite ending:

• pirítunk = we roast/brown something indefinite
• pirítjuk = we roast/brown it / the ... something definite

So megpirítjuk a fokhagymát literally works like we brown the garlic.

This is a very common pattern in Hungarian:

• definite object → definite verb ending
• indefinite object or no object → indefinite verb ending

The prefix meg- often gives the verb a sense of completion, result, or doing something fully/to the intended point.

Compare:

• pirít = to toast, roast lightly, brown
• megpirít = to brown/toast something until it is browned

So in this sentence, meg- suggests that the garlic is not just being heated, but actually being browned/toasted properly.

This kind of verbal prefix is extremely common in Hungarian, and meg- is one of the most frequent ones.

Because fokhagymát is in the accusative case, which marks the direct object.

The basic noun is:

• fokhagyma = garlic

As the thing being browned, it becomes the direct object, so it takes -t:

• fokhagymát = garlic / the garlic (as object)

Also notice this sound change:

• final -a often becomes -á- before suffixes
• so fokhagyma + -t → fokhagymát

This lengthening is very normal in Hungarian:

• alma → almát
• körte → körtét
• fokhagyma → fokhagymát

Because Hungarian often uses the definite article when referring to a specific ingredient in context, especially in instructions or recipes.

So:

• a fokhagymát = the garlic

Even if English might sometimes say just garlic, Hungarian often prefers the definite article in a sentence like this, especially if the ingredient is already understood from the recipe.

And once the object is definite, the verb also switches to the definite conjugation:

• a fokhagymát → megpirítjuk

In Hungarian, recipes and instructions often use first person plural (we) where English commonly uses the imperative or an impersonal style.

So Hungarian says:

• Megpirítjuk a fokhagymát. Literally: We brown the garlic.

But in natural English recipe style, this usually means:

• Brown the garlic.

This instructional we is very common in Hungarian cooking language and step-by-step directions.

Yes, it is present tense in form.

Grammatically:

• megpirítjuk = present tense, 1st person plural, definite conjugation

But in context—especially in recipes—Hungarian often uses the present tense to describe the steps of a process:

• megpucoljuk = we peel
• felvágjuk = we cut up
• megpirítjuk = we brown

In English, these are usually translated as instructions:

• Peel...
• Cut up...
• Brown...

So the form is present tense, but the function is instructional.

Yes, A fokhagymát megpirítjuk is also possible, but the emphasis changes.

The version you have:

• Megpirítjuk a fokhagymát.

is a neutral sentence. The verb with its prefix comes first, and the object follows.

If you say:

• A fokhagymát megpirítjuk.

then the garlic is more prominent or topical—something like:

• As for the garlic, we brown it or
• The garlic, we brown

Hungarian word order is strongly connected to focus and information structure, not just grammar. So both are grammatical, but they do not feel exactly the same.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• megpirítjuk ≈ MEGH-pee-reet-yook
• a ≈ a short aw
• fokhagymát ≈ FOK-hawdj-maat

A few useful pronunciation notes:

• gy sounds like a soft dy sound
• j sounds like English y
• á is a long vowel, like a longer open a
• Hungarian stress is usually on the first syllable:
  • MEGpirítjuk
  • FOKhagymát

So the rhythm is:

• MEG-pi-RÍT-juk a FOK-hagy-MÁT

The base verb is pirít.

Its core meaning is:

• to toast
• to brown
• to roast lightly

With the prefix:

• megpirít = to brown/toast something properly, to get it browned

And in this sentence:

• megpirítjuk = we brown it / the ...

So you can think of the structure as:

• meg-
  • pirít
    • -juk

By itself, fokhagyma usually means garlic in a general sense, or the garlic ingredient.

If you specifically want to say a clove of garlic, Hungarian usually says:

• egy gerezd fokhagyma = a clove of garlic

So in a recipe sentence like Megpirítjuk a fokhagymát, a fokhagymát normally means the garlic as the ingredient being used, not necessarily one whole bulb. The exact amount comes from the recipe context.