Breakdown of Az ünnepelt elfújja a tortagyertyát.
az
the
tortagyertya
a birthday-cake candle
ünnepelt
the guest of honour
elfújni
to blow out a flame
Questions & Answers about Az ünnepelt elfújja a tortagyertyát.
Why is it az ünnepelt but a tortagyertyát?
A and az are the same definite article, like English the. The choice depends on the next sound:
- az is used before a vowel sound: az ünnepelt
- a is used before a consonant sound: a tortagyertyát
So this is just a pronunciation rule, not a difference in meaning.
What exactly does ünnepelt mean here?
Ünnepelt literally means celebrated or the one being celebrated.
It comes from the verb ünnepel = to celebrate. In this sentence, it is being used like a noun, so az ünnepelt means the celebrant / the guest of honor / the birthday person, depending on context.
This is common in Hungarian: a participle or adjective can be used as a noun if the context is clear.
Why is elfújja one word? What does el- do?