Hozd be a palántát, nehogy hideg helyen maradjon.

Hozd is the 2nd person singular imperative form of hozni = to bring.

So it means bring! when speaking to one person informally.

More specifically, it is the definite imperative form, because the sentence has a definite object: a palántát = the seedling.

A useful contrast:

• hozod = you bring it / you are bringing it
• hozd = bring it!

So Hozd be a palántát means Bring the seedling in.

Because Hungarian distinguishes between indefinite and definite verb forms.

Here the object is a palántát = the seedling, which is definite, so the verb uses the definite imperative:

• hozz = bring (something unspecified)
• hozd = bring it / bring the specific thing

Compare:

• Hozz be egy palántát. = Bring in a seedling.
• Hozd be a palántát. = Bring in the seedling.

That final -d is the clue that the command is aimed at a definite object.

Because in Hungarian, verbal prefixes often move around depending on sentence type.

The basic verb is behozni = to bring in.

But in a positive imperative, the prefix usually comes after the verb:

• Behozod a palántát. = You bring in the seedling.
• Hozd be a palántát! = Bring in the seedling!

So Hozd be is completely normal word order for a command.

This is a very common pattern with prefixed verbs:

• Vedd fel! = Put it on! / Pick it up!
• Tedd le! = Put it down!
• Menj be! = Go in!

The -t marks the accusative case, which usually shows the direct object of the verb.

So:

• a palánta = the seedling
• a palántát = the seedling, as the thing being brought in

Hungarian marks direct objects much more clearly than English does.

Also notice the vowel change:

• palánta
• palántát

Many nouns ending in -a or -e lengthen that final vowel before certain suffixes, including the accusative -t.

Because a means the, while egy means a/an.

Here the speaker means a specific seedling, probably one already known from the situation. That is why Hungarian uses:

• a palántát = the seedling

If the speaker meant any seedling, or one not previously identified, they could say:

• egy palántát = a seedling

This choice also affects the verb form:

• Hozz be egy palántát.
• Hozd be a palántát.

So article choice and verb form work together.

Nehogy introduces something the speaker wants to prevent. It often has the sense of:

• lest
• so that ... not
• make sure ... doesn’t
• don’t let it happen that ...

In this sentence:

• Hozd be a palántát, nehogy hideg helyen maradjon.

the idea is:

• Bring the seedling in, so it doesn’t end up in a cold place.
• Bring the seedling in, lest it remain in a cold place.

It has a slightly cautionary, preventive feel.

Because after nehogy, Hungarian normally uses the imperative/subjunctive form of the verb.

Maradjon is the 3rd person singular imperative/subjunctive of marad = to remain / stay.

So:

• marad = it remains / stays
• maradjon = may it remain / let it remain / that it remain

After nehogy, this form does not sound like a direct command to the plant. Instead, it expresses an unwanted possibility:

• nehogy ... maradjon = so that it doesn’t remain / lest it remain

This is one of the places where Hungarian uses the imperative/subjunctive where English would use a different structure.

Because its subject is a palánta = the seedling, which is singular.

Even though English might naturally say it, Hungarian usually just leaves the pronoun out when the meaning is clear from context.

So the hidden subject is basically:

• a palánta maradjon = the seedling remain

But since a palántát has already been mentioned, Hungarian does not need to repeat it.

If the object were plural, the verb would change too:

• Hozd be a palántákat, nehogy hideg helyen maradjanak.
• Bring in the seedlings, so they don’t stay in a cold place.

Because Hungarian often drops subject pronouns when they are obvious from context.

English usually needs it:

• so that it doesn’t stay in a cold place

Hungarian usually does not:

• nehogy hideg helyen maradjon

The verb ending already shows that the subject is 3rd person singular, and the listener can easily understand that it refers back to the seedling.

This omission is very normal in Hungarian.

Hideg helyen means in a cold place.

Breakdown:

• hideg = cold
• hely = place
• helyen = in/on/at a place

The ending -en here is a case ending, specifically the superessive. With hely, Hungarian often uses this form in expressions like:

• jó helyen van = it is in a good place
• rossz helyen parkol = he is parked in the wrong place
• hideg helyen marad = it remains in a cold place

Also, there is no article here because the place is not specific. It means in a cold place in a general sense.

If it were a specific place, you might see:

• a hideg helyen = in the cold place

It is informal singular, because hozd is used when speaking directly to one person in an informal way.

If you wanted the formal version, you would say:

• Hozza be a palántát, nehogy hideg helyen maradjon.

If speaking informally to more than one person:

• Hozzátok be a palántát, nehogy hideg helyen maradjon.

So hozd tells you a lot about who is being addressed.

Sometimes yes, but the nuance is a little different.

• nehogy has a stronger warning/prevention flavor
• hogy ne is often a more neutral purpose construction

So:

• Hozd be a palántát, nehogy hideg helyen maradjon.
  = Bring in the seedling, so it doesn’t end up staying in a cold place.

A more neutral-purpose version might be something like:

• Hozd be a palántát, hogy ne maradjon hideg helyen.

That also makes sense, but nehogy sounds more like the speaker is worried about an undesirable outcome.

Yes, but not in a rigid English-like way.

This order is natural and neutral:

• hideg helyen maradjon = remain in a cold place

The location phrase hideg helyen comes before the verb, which is very common in Hungarian.

You could sometimes rearrange Hungarian word order for emphasis, but the given version is the most straightforward and natural here.

So for a learner, it is best to understand this as a normal pattern:

• [place expression] + [verb]

such as:

• kint maradjon = remain outside
• árnyékban legyen = be in the shade
• hideg helyen maradjon = remain in a cold place