Az olvasójegy új.

The library card is new.

Breakdown of Az olvasójegy új.

• új: new
• az: the
• olvasójegy: a library card

Questions & Answers about Az olvasójegy új.

Why is there no word for is in Az olvasójegy új?

In Hungarian, the verb van (to be) is usually left out in the present tense when the subject is third person singular or plural.

So:

• Az olvasójegy új. = The library card is new.
• not normally Az olvasójegy van új.

This is a very common pattern in Hungarian. You do use forms of to be in other persons, for example:

• Új vagyok. = I am new.
• Új vagy. = You are new.

But with he/she/it or they in the present tense, Hungarian usually omits it.

Why is the article az and not a?

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a
• az

Which one you use depends on the sound at the beginning of the next word:

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

Since olvasójegy begins with o, a vowel, the correct form is:

• az olvasójegy

Compare:

• a könyv = the book
• az asztal = the table

So az here is purely about pronunciation.