Nem elég, hogy szűk az öltöny, a karikagyűrű még drága is.

Questions & Answers about Nem elég, hogy szűk az öltöny, a karikagyűrű még drága is.

What does Nem elég, hogy ... mean in this sentence?

Literally, nem elég means it is not enough. But in this pattern, Nem elég, hogy X, Y is an idiomatic way to complain about one bad thing and then add another.

Here it means something like:

  • As if it weren't enough that X, Y too
  • Not only X, but Y as well
  • To make matters worse, X, and Y too

So the sentence has a frustrated, complaining tone.

Why is there no word for is in szűk az öltöny?

Hungarian usually leaves out the verb van (is) in the present tense, third person when the predicate is a noun or adjective.

So:

  • Az öltöny szűk = The suit is tight
  • A karikagyűrű drága = The wedding ring is expensive

You do not normally say van here.

This omission also applies in drága is: the sentence still means is expensive too, even though van is not spoken.

Why is the word order szűk az öltöny instead of az öltöny szűk?

Both are possible, but they are not exactly the same in emphasis.

  • Az öltöny szűk is more neutral: The suit is tight.
  • Szűk az öltöny puts more emphasis on szűk: The suit is tight / It’s tight, the suit.

In this sentence, that order helps highlight the problem being complained about. Hungarian word order is often used to show emphasis, not just basic grammar.

What does még ... is mean in még drága is?

This combination adds the idea of on top of that, too, or even.

So még drága is means something like:

  • it is expensive too
  • it is even expensive
  • to make matters worse, it’s expensive as well

In this sentence, még ... is strengthens the complaint: the ring is not just there as another fact, but another unpleasant fact.

Why does is come after drága?

Because is in Hungarian usually comes after the word or phrase it belongs to.

Here:

  • drága is = expensive too / also expensive

So the added idea of too/also is attached to drága.

Compare:

  • A karikagyűrű is drága = The wedding ring is expensive too / The wedding ring too is expensive
  • A karikagyűrű még drága is = The wedding ring is even expensive / is expensive too, on top of everything

The position of is changes what gets the emphasis.

Why is it az öltöny but a karikagyűrű?

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

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

So:

  • az öltöny because öltöny starts with the vowel ö
  • a karikagyűrű because karikagyűrű starts with the consonant k

This is similar to a/an in English, but Hungarian uses these forms only for the definite article.

What exactly does karikagyűrű mean?

Karikagyűrű means wedding ring or wedding band.

It is a compound word:

  • karika = circle, hoop, band
  • gyűrű = ring

So the literal image is something like a band ring. In everyday Hungarian, it specifically refers to the ring used in marriage, not just any ring.

Does drága only mean expensive?

No. Drága can mean both:

  • expensive
  • dear / beloved

For example:

  • Ez drága. = This is expensive.
  • Drága barátom = my dear friend

In this sentence, because it is talking about a ring and complaining about problems, drága clearly means expensive.

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