Breakdown of Az ünnepelt elfújja a tortagyertyát.
Questions & Answers about Az ünnepelt elfújja 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.
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.
Hungarian often adds a verbal prefix to a verb. Here:
- fúj = blow
- elfúj = blow out
So el- gives the idea of completion or moving something away/out. In this verb, it corresponds well to English out in blow out.
It is written together with the verb when the prefix stands directly before it, as in this sentence: elfújja.