Breakdown of Nem elég, hogy megvarratjuk, még ki is tisztíttatjuk az öltönyt.
Questions & Answers about Nem elég, hogy megvarratjuk, még ki is tisztíttatjuk az öltönyt.
What does the pattern Nem elég, hogy ..., még ... is ... mean?
This is a very common Hungarian pattern meaning something like:
- It’s not enough that ...; ... as well
- As if ... weren’t enough, ... too
- Not only ..., but also ...
So in this sentence, the speaker is expressing that one thing already happens, and on top of that, another thing also happens.
The structure is:
- Nem elég, hogy X, még Y is = It’s not enough that X, Y too
It often has a tone of complaint, surprise, or emphasis.
Why are megvarratjuk and tisztíttatjuk so long? What do these verbs mean grammatically?
Both are causative verbs.
In Hungarian, the causative usually means to have someone do something or to make someone do something.
For English speakers, a good way to think of it is:
- varr = to sew
- varrat = to have something sewn / to get something sewn
and
- tisztít = to clean
- tisztíttat = to have something cleaned
So:
- megvarratjuk az öltönyt = we have the suit sewn/altered
- ki is tisztíttatjuk az öltönyt = we also have the suit cleaned / dry-cleaned
This does not usually mean we ourselves do the sewing/cleaning. It means we arrange for someone else to do it.
How is megvarratjuk built up?
It can be broken down like this:
- meg- = verbal prefix
- varr = sew
- -at/-tat = causative suffix
- -juk = we with a definite object
So:
- varr = sew
- varrat = have sewn
- megvarratjuk = we have it sewn / we get it sewn
The prefix meg- often suggests that the action is completed or successfully carried out.
How is ki is tisztíttatjuk built up?
This one contains several pieces:
- ki- = verbal prefix
- is = also / too / even
- tisztít = clean
- -tat = causative
- -juk = we with a definite object
So:
- tisztít = clean
- tisztíttat = have cleaned
- ki tisztíttat = have cleaned out / have dry-cleaned, depending on context
- ki is tisztíttatjuk = we also have it cleaned / we even have it dry-cleaned
The doubled tt is normal here: tisztít + tat gives tisztíttat.
Why is there -juk at the end of both verbs?
Because the sentence has a definite direct object: az öltönyt = the suit.
Hungarian verbs have two main conjugation types:
- indefinite
- definite
When the verb has a specific, definite object like the suit, Hungarian usually uses the definite conjugation.
So:
- megvarratjuk
- tisztíttatjuk
both mean we have it done with a definite object in mind.
Even though az öltönyt is only stated once, it belongs to both verbs.
Why is az öltönyt only said once at the end?
Because Hungarian often avoids repeating an object if it is clearly the object of both verbs.
So this sentence effectively means:
- Nem elég, hogy megvarratjuk az öltönyt, még ki is tisztíttatjuk az öltönyt.
But repeating az öltönyt would sound unnecessary. Saying it once at the end is natural and efficient.
This is similar to English:
- We’re having the suit altered and also having it dry-cleaned.
You do not need to repeat the suit after both verbs.
Why is the object öltönyt and not öltöny?
Because öltönyt is the accusative form.
- öltöny = suit
- öltönyt = suit as the direct object
Hungarian usually marks direct objects with -t.
And because the noun has the article az, we get:
- az öltöny = the suit
- az öltönyt = the suit (as object)
What is the role of the prefixes meg- and ki- here?
They are verbal prefixes, and they often change the meaning in important ways.
meg-
This often adds the idea of:
- completion
- successful result
- doing something fully
So megvarratjuk is more like we get it sewn/altered properly, to completion.
ki-
This prefix often has meanings related to:
- out
- thorough completion
- bringing something into a finished state
With cleaning verbs, kitisztít often means clean out or clean thoroughly, and in clothing contexts it can correspond to have cleaned / dry-cleaned.
These prefixes are very important in Hungarian and often need to be learned together with the verb.
Why is is placed after ki: ki is tisztíttatjuk?
Because in Hungarian, is usually comes right after the element it connects to.
Here, még ... is works together as also / even / in addition.
So:
- még ki is tisztíttatjuk = we also/even have it cleaned
This gives emphasis to the second action.
The placement may feel unusual to an English speaker, but Hungarian particles and focus words often appear in positions that do not match English word order directly.
What does még add here? Isn’t is enough?
is alone means also / too.
But még ... is together is stronger. It often means:
- even
- what’s more
- on top of that
- also
So:
- még ki is tisztíttatjuk is stronger than just
- ki is tisztíttatjuk
It fits the tone of Nem elég, hogy ... very well: first one thing happens, then another extra thing is added.
Why is the word order like this? Could the prefixes stay attached to the verbs?
In neutral word order, Hungarian verbal prefixes often stand directly before the verb:
- megvarratjuk
- kitisztíttatjuk
But when there is special emphasis or focus, the structure can change. In this sentence:
- ki is tisztíttatjuk
the speaker is emphasizing the second action as an additional, noteworthy thing.
Also, megvarratjuk stays together because nothing interrupts it, while in the second part the combination még ... is creates a more emphatic structure.
So the word order is not random; it helps express the speaker’s attitude.
Does megvarratjuk mean we sew it ourselves?
No, normally it means we have it sewn or we get it altered/repaired by someone.
That is the key function of the causative in Hungarian.
Compare:
- varrjuk = we sew it
- varratjuk = we have it sewn
Likewise:
- tisztítjuk = we clean it
- tisztíttatjuk = we have it cleaned
For English speakers, the best translation model is often:
- have something done
- get something done
Why might megvarratjuk be translated as have it altered rather than literally have it sewn?
Because in context, with clothing, varratni often refers to having a garment sewn, repaired, or altered by a tailor.
So depending on the situation:
- megvarratjuk az öltönyt could mean
- have the suit sewn
- have the suit repaired
- have the suit altered
Hungarian often leaves that practical nuance to context.
So a very literal translation is not always the most natural English one.
Is this sentence neutral, or does it have some emotional tone?
It usually has a bit of an emphatic or complaining tone.
Because of the pattern:
- Nem elég, hogy ..., még ... is ...
the sentence can sound like:
- As if having it altered weren’t enough, we’re even having it dry-cleaned.
So the speaker is not just listing two actions neutrally; they are highlighting that the second one is an extra step.
Could the sentence be rephrased in simpler Hungarian?
Yes. A simpler, less idiomatic version might be something like:
- Megvarratjuk és kitisztíttatjuk az öltönyt.
That simply means:
- We’re having the suit altered and cleaned.
But this loses the emotional force of:
- Nem elég, hogy ..., még ... is ...
So the original is more expressive and more natural if the speaker wants to stress and on top of that...
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning HungarianMaster Hungarian — from Nem elég, hogy megvarratjuk, még ki is tisztíttatjuk az öltönyt to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions