Az előfizető csatlakoztatja a routert.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

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

Because előfizető begins with a vowel sound, you use az:

• az előfizető = the subscriber/customer

This works much like a/an in English, but Hungarian uses it for the definite article instead of the indefinite one.

Előfizető most often means subscriber or customer with a subscription.

It comes from the verb előfizet = to subscribe.
The ending -ő can form a person noun, so előfizető is literally something like one who subscribes.

Depending on context, it could refer to:

• an internet subscriber
• a phone customer
• a TV subscriber
• a service customer

So in a technical or telecom context, előfizető is very natural.

The -t marks the direct object in Hungarian. This is called the accusative ending.

So:

• router = router
• routert = router as the thing being acted on

In this sentence, the router is what gets connected, so it takes -t:

• Az előfizető csatlakoztatja a routert.
• The subscriber connects the router.

This is one of the most important features of Hungarian grammar: the object is often marked directly on the noun.

Because Hungarian verbs can agree with whether the object is definite or indefinite.

Here, the object is definite:

• a routert = the router

So the verb uses the definite conjugation:

• csatlakoztatja = he/she connects it / is connecting it

Compare:

• csatlakoztat egy routert = connects a router (indefinite object)
• csatlakoztatja a routert = connects the router (definite object)

The -ja ending here tells you that the subject is he/she/it and that the object is definite.

The dictionary form is csatlakoztat.

That verb means to connect, to attach, or to hook up something.

A helpful comparison:

• csatlakozik = to connect/join oneself, to be connected, to join
• csatlakoztat = to connect something

So:

• A router csatlakozik. = The router connects / is connecting.
• Az előfizető csatlakoztatja a routert. = The subscriber connects the router.

The -tat/-tet type endings often make a verb more causative or transitive, though learners usually benefit most from just learning csatlakoztat as a complete verb meaning to connect something.

This is a very normal, neutral Hungarian word order:

• Az előfizető = subject
• csatlakoztatja = verb
• a routert = object

So it is basically:

• The subscriber connects the router.

Hungarian word order is more flexible than English, but changes in order often change focus or emphasis rather than basic meaning.

For example:

• Az előfizető csatlakoztatja a routert.
  Neutral statement.

• A routert az előfizető csatlakoztatja.
  Emphasis on the router.

• Az előfizető a routert csatlakoztatja.
  Emphasis that it is the router that the subscriber is connecting.

So the original sentence is the most straightforward version.

By itself, it is present tense, but Hungarian present tense can cover several meanings depending on context:

• connects
• is connecting
• sometimes even a near-future sense, depending on the situation

So csatlakoztatja a routert could mean:

• he/she connects the router
• he/she is connecting the router

Context tells you which is meant.

Hungarian uses the definite article very naturally with nouns that are specific and known in the context.

So here:

• Az előfizető = the subscriber
• a routert = the router

This suggests both are specific, identifiable things in the situation.

Hungarian often uses the definite article in places where English also would, but the important extra effect here is that the definite object a routert triggers the definite verb conjugation: csatlakoztatja.

It is a loanword, but it is used in Hungarian and behaves like a Hungarian noun in grammar.

That means it can take Hungarian endings:

• router = router
• routert = router + accusative
• routerhez = to the router
• routerrel = with the router

This is very common in modern Hungarian, especially with technical vocabulary.

A rough guide:

• Az ≈ awz
• előfizető ≈ eh-luh-fee-zeh-tuh
• csatlakoztatja ≈ chaht-lah-kohs-taht-yaw
• a routert ≈ aw roo-tehrt

A few useful sound notes:

• cs = like ch in chair
• sz = like s in see
• z = like z in zoo
• ő is a long rounded vowel, somewhat like the French eu sound
• gy, ty, ny are special Hungarian consonants, though they do not appear here

Also, Hungarian stress is always on the first syllable of each word:

• ELőfizető
• CSATlakoztatja
• ROUtert

Yes. Hungarian often drops subject pronouns and even noun subjects when they are clear from context.

Because csatlakoztatja already tells you he/she/it ... it, the sentence can work without explicitly naming the subject.

But if you say:

• Az előfizető csatlakoztatja a routert

you are explicitly stating that the subscriber is the one doing it.

So both are possible, but the full version is clearer and more explicit.