Az őrlőfog ma kevésbé érzékeny.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a
• az

They both mean the.

The choice depends on the sound that follows:

• a before a consonant
• az before a vowel

Here, the next word is őrlőfog, which starts with the vowel ő, so Hungarian uses az:

• az őrlőfog = the molar

This is similar to English a/an, but Hungarian does it with the definite article instead.

Őrlőfog means molar.

It is a compound word:

• őrlő = grinding
• fog = tooth

So literally it is something like grinding tooth.

This is very typical in Hungarian: compound nouns are very common, and their meaning is often fairly transparent once you know the parts.

Good question. Fog can be both:

• a noun: tooth
• a verb: he/she/it grabs, or as an auxiliary in future constructions

In this sentence, fog is clearly part of the noun őrlőfog = molar.

So here it has nothing to do with the verb fog.

Hungarian often has forms that look identical but mean different things depending on context.

In Hungarian, in the present tense, 3rd person singular often leaves out the verb to be when the sentence is equational or descriptive.

So:

• Az őrlőfog érzékeny. = The molar is sensitive.
• literally: The molar sensitive.

This is completely normal Hungarian.

The verb van (is) would usually not appear here in standard affirmative present-tense sentences.

So:

• Az őrlőfog ma kevésbé érzékeny. = The molar is less sensitive today.

Ma means today.

In this sentence:

• Az őrlőfog ma kevésbé érzékeny.
• The molar is less sensitive today.

Its position is natural and neutral. Hungarian word order is flexible, but it is not random: word order often reflects focus, emphasis, or topic/comment structure.

Here, the sentence feels like:

• topic: Az őrlőfog = the molar
• comment: ma kevésbé érzékeny = is less sensitive today

You could move ma in some contexts, but that may change emphasis.

Kevésbé is the adverb meaning less.

It comes from kevés = little / few.

In comparisons with adjectives, kevésbé works like English less:

• kevésbé érzékeny = less sensitive
• kevésbé fáj = it hurts less
• kevésbé fontos = less important

So the structure is:

• kevésbé + adjective/adverb

In this sentence:

• érzékeny = sensitive
• kevésbé érzékeny = less sensitive

Hungarian has two common ways to compare:

1. a true comparative adjective, often with -bb
2. kevésbé + adjective = less + adjective

So:

• érzékenyebb = more sensitive
• kevésbé érzékeny = less sensitive

This sentence uses the second pattern because it means less sensitive, not more sensitive.

So the contrast is:

• Az őrlőfog ma érzékenyebb. = The molar is more sensitive today.
• Az őrlőfog ma kevésbé érzékeny. = The molar is less sensitive today.

It can describe both.

Érzékeny can mean:

• sensitive physically
  
  • érzékeny fog = sensitive tooth
• sensitive emotionally
  
  • érzékeny ember = a sensitive person
• even sensitive in technical or abstract contexts
  
  • érzékeny műszer = sensitive instrument

So in this sentence, the physical meaning is clear from őrlőfog.

Not completely. Hungarian word order is flexible, but different orders can sound different in emphasis.

This version is a natural neutral sentence:

• Az őrlőfog ma kevésbé érzékeny.

It suggests something like: As for the molar, today it is less sensitive.

Other orders are possible, but they may shift attention:

• Ma az őrlőfog kevésbé érzékeny.
  Emphasis slightly more on today
• Az őrlőfog kevésbé érzékeny ma.
  Possible, but often less neutral in everyday speech

So this sentence is a good standard order for a simple statement.

A rough pronunciation guide:

• őrlőfog ≈ UR-loe-fog
• érzékeny ≈ AIR-zay-ken(y)

A few important points:

• ő is a long rounded vowel, something like the vowel in German schön if you know it
• é is like a long ay
• ny is a single consonant sound, like ñ in Spanish señor

Also, Hungarian stress is always on the first syllable:

• ŐR-lő-fog
• ÉR-zé-keny

No, not as written.

• Az őrlőfog = the molar
• Egy őrlőfog = a molar
• Az őrlőfogam = my molar

Hungarian shows possession directly on the noun:

• fogam = my tooth
• őrlőfogam = my molar

So the given sentence refers to the molar, probably one already understood from context.

Because only nouns normally take articles.

Here:

• az őrlőfog = noun phrase with article
• ma = adverb (today)
• kevésbé érzékeny = adverb + adjective (less sensitive)

Adverbs and predicate adjectives do not take articles in this kind of sentence.

So the structure is simply:

• Az őrlőfog = subject
• ma = time expression
• kevésbé érzékeny = predicate

That is why only őrlőfog has the article.