Az árussal alkudunk.

Az is the definite article, equivalent to the.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a before a consonant sound
• az before a vowel sound

Since árus begins with the vowel á, the correct form is az árus.

So:

• a bolt = the shop
• az árus = the vendor

Árussal means with the vendor / with the seller.

It is made from:

• árus = vendor, seller
• -val / -vel = a case ending meaning with or by means of

So the basic idea is:

• árus → vendor
• árussal → with the vendor

This is because of a very common sound change in Hungarian.

The ending -val / -vel often changes when it is attached to a word ending in a consonant. The v assimilates to the final consonant, and that consonant gets doubled in spelling.

So:

• árus + val → árussal
• ház + val → házzal
• kéz + vel → kézzel

Since árus ends in s, the result is ss.

A useful pronunciation note: Hungarian s sounds like English sh, so árussal has a long sh sound.

Here it means with.

Hungarian uses -val / -vel for the instrumental/comitative idea. Depending on context, it can mean things like:

• with someone
• using something
• sometimes by something

In this sentence, it clearly means with the vendor, because bargaining is something done together with another person.

Alkudunk is the verb form meaning we bargain, we haggle, or we are bargaining.

It comes from the verb:

• alkudni = to bargain / to haggle

The ending -unk shows:

• 1st person plural = we

So:

• alkudok = I bargain
• alkudsz = you bargain
• alkudunk = we bargain

Because Hungarian usually does not need subject pronouns.

The verb ending already tells you who the subject is. In alkudunk, the ending -unk already means we, so adding mi (we) is usually unnecessary.

So Hungarian often says just:

• Alkudunk. = We are bargaining.

You can add mi for emphasis or contrast, but normally it is left out.

Hungarian verbs have different conjugation patterns, often called indefinite and definite conjugation.

Here, alkudunk is the indefinite form. That is the normal form when:

• there is no direct object, or
• the verb is being used without a definite direct object

In this sentence, alkudni is basically being used without a direct object. The phrase az árussal is not a direct object; it is a with-phrase.

So alkudunk is the expected form.

In Hungarian, the article stays a separate word, and the case ending goes on the noun.

So:

• az árus = the vendor
• az árussal = with the vendor

The article az does not take the case ending. The noun does.

This is normal Hungarian structure:

• a házban = in the house
• az emberrel = with the person
• az árussal = with the vendor

Yes, Alkudunk az árussal is also grammatical.

Hungarian word order is more flexible than English word order. The order often depends on what is being treated as the topic or what the speaker wants to emphasize.

• Az árussal alkudunk.
• Alkudunk az árussal.

Both can mean essentially the same thing, but they may sound slightly different in emphasis or flow depending on context.

A learner should understand that Hungarian word order is influenced a lot by information structure, not just grammar.

Árus usually means a vendor, seller, or person selling goods, often in a market or stall-type context.

It is not always exactly the same as every English word for seller. Depending on context, Hungarian might also use other words, such as:

• eladó = salesperson / shop assistant / seller
• kereskedő = merchant / trader
• árus = vendor / seller, often someone selling goods directly

So árus gives the sentence a slightly more specific feel than a very general English person.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

awz AA-roosh-shawl AWL-koo-doonk

A few important points:

• a is usually like a short o in English hot (depending on accent)
• á is a long vowel, roughly aa
• Hungarian s sounds like English sh
• Hungarian ss is a long sh sound
• u is like oo
• stress is on the first syllable of each word

So:

• Az → awz
• árussal → AA-roosh-shawl
• alkudunk → AWL-koo-doonk