A vizsgabiztos átvizsgálja a lengéscsillapítót.

Because Hungarian uses the definite article before both the subject and the object when they are definite.

• A vizsgabiztos = the examiner / the inspector
• a lengéscsillapítót = the shock absorber

Hungarian a and az both mean the. Which one you use depends on the next sound:

• a before a consonant
• az before a vowel

Here both following words begin with consonants, so both articles are a.

Vizsgabiztos is a compound noun. It usually means an examiner, inspector, or official who conducts an inspection/test.

It is made from:

• vizsga = exam, test, inspection
• biztos = commissioner, official, authorized person

In practical contexts, especially vehicles, it often refers to the person carrying out the inspection.

Because Hungarian verbs change depending on whether they have a definite object.

Here the object is definite:

• a lengéscsillapítót = the shock absorber

So Hungarian uses the definite conjugation.

• átvizsgál = he/she examines, inspects (indefinite or dictionary form)
• átvizsgálja = he/she examines it / the specific thing

So the -ja ending shows:

• 3rd person singular: he/she
• definite object: the specific shock absorber

This is one of the biggest differences from English.

The prefix át- often gives the idea of doing something thoroughly, all over, or through.

So:

• vizsgálja = examines
• átvizsgálja = examines thoroughly, inspects carefully, checks over

In many contexts, átvizsgálja sounds more like inspects or checks over than just a simple looks at.

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

The direct object here is the shock absorber:

• base form: lengéscsillapító
• accusative: lengéscsillapítót

So -t tells you that this is the thing being inspected.

English mainly shows this through word order:

• The inspector checks the shock absorber

Hungarian can also show it directly on the noun with -t.

Because the noun already ends in a vowel: lengéscsillapító.

When a noun ends in a vowel, Hungarian often adds the accusative -t directly:

• autó → autót
• cipő → cipőt
• lengéscsillapító → lengéscsillapítót

There is no extra linking vowel needed here.

Yes, it is one word, and that is very normal in Hungarian. Hungarian often forms long compound words.

This one breaks down roughly as:

• lengés = oscillation, bouncing, vibration
• csillapító = something that reduces or damps

Together, lengéscsillapító means shock absorber.

Hungarian compounds can be much longer than what English learners are used to.

The sentence has a very neutral word order:

• A vizsgabiztos = subject
• átvizsgálja = verb
• a lengéscsillapítót = object

So it is basically:

Subject + Verb + Object

That makes it easy to understand for an English speaker. However, Hungarian word order is more flexible than English and can change for emphasis or focus.

Yes, but the meaning or emphasis may change.

For example:

• A vizsgabiztos átvizsgálja a lengéscsillapítót.
  Neutral statement.

• A lengéscsillapítót a vizsgabiztos átvizsgálja.
  Puts more emphasis on the shock absorber.

• Átvizsgálja a vizsgabiztos a lengéscsillapítót.
  Possible in speech or special contexts, but less neutral.

Because Hungarian marks the object with -t, word order is freer than in English.

A few important sound points:

• zs sounds like the s in measure
• sz sounds like English s
• cs sounds like ch
• gy is a soft consonant, somewhat like the dy in British duke, though not exactly
• stress in Hungarian normally falls on the first syllable of the word

A rough pronunciation guide:

• vizsgabiztos ≈ VIZH-gaw-bee-stosh
• átvizsgálja ≈ AAT-vizh-gaal-yaw
• lengéscsillapítót ≈ LEN-ghays-chil-law-pee-toat

These are only rough English approximations, but they help.

Csillapító originally comes from a verb and works like dampening or suppressing, but as a noun/adjective form it can mean dampener or thing that reduces.

So in lengéscsillapító, it functions as the second part of a compound noun:

• lengés = oscillation / bouncing
• csillapító = dampener / reducer

Together: shock absorber

This is very common in Hungarian word formation.

Because Hungarian is a highly inflected language. Instead of relying mainly on word order, it often attaches grammatical information directly to words.

Here:

• a lengéscsillapító = the shock absorber
• a lengéscsillapítót = the shock absorber as direct object

That final -t carries important grammar. English usually does not do this with nouns, so this can feel unusual at first.

In this sentence, a is the definite article, so the most direct meaning is the examiner.

However, in some contexts Hungarian can sound more general than English, depending on the situation. Still, if you are translating this sentence by itself, the examiner is the safest and most natural choice.

If Hungarian wanted to say an examiner, it would usually use egy:

• Egy vizsgabiztos átvizsgálja a lengéscsillapítót.
  An examiner inspects the shock absorber.

The dictionary form is átvizsgál.

From that you get forms like:

• átvizsgálok = I inspect
• átvizsgálsz = you inspect
• átvizsgál = he/she inspects
• átvizsgálja = he/she inspects it / the specific thing

So when you look up the verb, you would normally look for átvizsgál, not átvizsgálja.

In Hungarian, the verb ending usually tells you the person.

Here, átvizsgálja tells you it is he/she with a definite object. But since the sentence also includes A vizsgabiztos, there is no ambiguity:

• A vizsgabiztos = the examiner
• átvizsgálja = inspects it / the specific thing

So the subject is clearly stated, even though Hungarian would not need a separate pronoun like he.

Probably this combination:

1. Accusative -t on the direct object

   • lengéscsillapítót

2. Definite verb conjugation because the object is definite

   • átvizsgálja

These two often go together in Hungarian. If you see a definite object like a ...-t, it is very common for the verb to appear in the definite conjugation as well.