A kártyabirtokos itt van.

A is the Hungarian definite article, so here it means the.

A few useful points:

• Hungarian has a and az
• a is used before a consonant sound
• az is used before a vowel sound

So:

• a kártyabirtokos = the cardholder
• az asztal = the table

Unlike English, Hungarian articles do not show gender. There is no separate word for the based on masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Kártyabirtokos is a compound noun:

• kártya = card
• birtokos = holder, possessor, owner

So the whole word means cardholder.

This kind of compound is very common in Hungarian. Instead of using several separate words, Hungarian often packs the idea into one longer noun.

Also, birtokos does not always mean a legal owner in the strictest sense. In many practical contexts, it simply means the person who has or holds something, so cardholder is the natural translation here.

Because itt is its own adverb meaning here.

Hungarian often expresses location with adverbs such as:

• itt = here
• ott = there
• lent = down below
• kint = outside
• bent = inside

So itt van literally means is here.

There is no hidden case ending inside itt in this sentence; it is simply the normal standalone word for here.

That is a very common and very good question.

Hungarian often omits the verb van in the present tense when the predicate is a noun or adjective:

• A kártyabirtokos fáradt. = The cardholder is tired.
• A kártyabirtokos ügyfél. = The cardholder is a customer.

But when talking about location or existence, Hungarian normally keeps van:

• A kártyabirtokos itt van. = The cardholder is here.
• A könyv az asztalon van. = The book is on the table.

So in this sentence, van stays because itt expresses location.

The normal, neutral order here is itt van.

• A kártyabirtokos itt van. = The cardholder is here.

Hungarian word order is flexible, but it is strongly connected to focus and emphasis.

Other orders are possible, but they usually sound different:

• Itt van a kártyabirtokos.
  More like Here is the cardholder or The cardholder is here with emphasis on the location/arrival.

• A kártyabirtokos van itt.
  This puts focus on the cardholder as the one who is here, perhaps contrasting with someone else.

• Van itt... can occur in some contexts, but it does not sound like the neutral version of this sentence.

So if you just want the plain statement, A kártyabirtokos itt van is the safest choice.

Yes, it can be very close in meaning, but the emphasis changes.

Compare:

• A kártyabirtokos itt van.
  Neutral statement: The cardholder is here.

• Itt van a kártyabirtokos.
  More like announcing or pointing out: Here is the cardholder or The cardholder is here now.

English often keeps the same word order and changes emphasis only through voice or context. Hungarian uses word order much more actively to show what is new, important, or contrasted.

Kártyabirtokos is singular: cardholder.

The plural is:

• kártyabirtokosok = cardholders

So the plural sentence would be:

• A kártyabirtokosok itt vannak. = The cardholders are here.

Notice that the verb also changes:

• van = is
• vannak = are

A rough guide:

• kártya: KAAR-tyaw
• birtokos: BEER-to-kosh
• itt: eett
• van: vawn or vahn

A few important pronunciation notes:

• á is a long vowel, somewhat like the vowel in father
• ty is a soft consonant, roughly like the t in British English tune for some speakers, though not exactly
• s in Hungarian sounds like English sh
• i is pronounced like ee
• double consonants such as tt are pronounced longer than single ones

Also, Hungarian stress is very regular: it falls on the first syllable of each word:

• KÁR-tya-bi-rto-kos
• ITT
• VAN

Not exactly.

Birtokos can mean:

• possessor
• holder
• owner

The best English translation depends on context.

In a banking, payment, or ID-card context, holder is often more natural than owner, so kártyabirtokos is usually best translated as cardholder.

Also, in Hungarian grammar, birtokos has another meaning: it can refer to the possessor in possessive structures. So you may also see the word in grammar explanations, not only in everyday vocabulary.

Yes. It sounds completely natural in contexts such as:

• reception desks
• banks
• hotels
• security checks
• customer service

For example, someone may be asking whether the person who owns or uses a certain card is present, and the reply is:

• A kártyabirtokos itt van. = The cardholder is here.

So this is not just a textbook sentence; it fits a real administrative or service situation very well.