A szellemi munka nehéz.

Intellectual work is difficult.

Breakdown of A szellemi munka nehéz.

• az: the
• munka: the work
• nehéz: difficult
• szellemi: intellectual or mental

Questions & Answers about A szellemi munka nehéz.

Why is there no word for is in A szellemi munka nehéz?

In Hungarian, the verb van (to be) is usually left out in the present tense, third person when one thing is being identified or described.

So:

• A szellemi munka nehéz. = Mental work is difficult.
• literally: The mental work difficult.

This omission is completely normal in Hungarian.

But the verb appears in other persons:

• A szellemi munka nehéz. = Mental work is difficult.
• A szellemi munka nehéz volt. = Mental work was difficult.
• A szellemi munka nehéz lesz. = Mental work will be difficult.
• A szellemi munka nehéz nekem. = Mental work is difficult for me.

And with I/you/we, you do use forms of van:

• Nehéz vagyok would mean I am heavy, not I am difficult
• A munka nehéz. = The work is difficult

So in this sentence, the missing is is just standard Hungarian grammar.

What does a mean here?