A szabó ma dolgozik.

A is the Hungarian definite article, meaning the.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a before a consonant
• az before a vowel

Since szabó begins with sz, which is a consonant sound, the sentence uses a szabó = the tailor.

A rough pronunciation is SAW-boh.

A few useful points:

• sz in Hungarian is pronounced like English s in see
• a is closer to the o in British hot or a short open vowel, not like English ay
• ó is a long o sound

So szabó is not pronounced with an English z sound at the beginning.

In Hungarian spelling:

• sz = English s
• s = English sh

This is one of the first spelling patterns learners need to get used to. So:

• szabó starts with an s sound
• if it were written sabó, it would begin with a sh sound

Dolgozik is the 3rd person singular present tense form of the verb dolgozni, meaning to work.

So:

• dolgozni = to work
• dolgozik = he/she works, or is working

Since the subject is a szabó (the tailor), the verb is in 3rd person singular.

Hungarian often uses the simple present where English might use either:

• works
• is working

So A szabó ma dolgozik can mean:

• The tailor works today
• The tailor is working today

The exact English translation depends on context. Hungarian does not need a separate form like English is working in this sentence.

Hungarian usually does not need subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows the person.

In dolgozik, the ending tells you it is 3rd person singular, so a separate pronoun is unnecessary.

Here the subject is explicitly stated anyway: a szabó = the tailor.

So Hungarian commonly says:

• Dolgozik. = He/She is working.
• A szabó dolgozik. = The tailor is working.

Ma means today, and in this sentence it appears before the verb in a very natural neutral word order.

So the structure is:

• A szabó = the tailor
• ma = today
• dolgozik = works / is working

Hungarian word order is flexible, but it is not random. Moving words can change emphasis.

For example:

• A szabó ma dolgozik. = neutral statement
• Ma dolgozik a szabó. = stronger emphasis on today
• A szabó dolgozik ma. = possible, but less neutral in many contexts

Yes, it is a very natural sentence.

It presents:

1. the topic: a szabó
2. the time expression: ma
3. the verb: dolgozik

This is a common neutral pattern in Hungarian. But because Hungarian word order is flexible, other versions are also possible depending on what you want to emphasize.

No. Szabó is in its basic dictionary form here.

• no plural ending
• no case ending

It is simply the subject of the sentence: the tailor.

Hungarian often adds endings to nouns, but in this sentence none are needed.

Dolgozik is in the indefinite conjugation.

Hungarian verbs can use two main conjugation patterns:

• indefinite
• definite

The definite conjugation is used when the verb has a specific direct object. But dolgozik (to work) usually has no direct object here, so the indefinite form is used.

That is why you get:

• dolgozik = works / is working

and not a definite-conjugation form.

Yes, depending on context.

In Hungarian, the present tense can cover both:

• a general fact or routine
• an action happening around the present time

So A szabó ma dolgozik could mean:

• The tailor works today
• The tailor is working today

The word ma already narrows the meaning to today, but context still helps decide exactly how natural the English translation should be.