Az intézet szakembert alkalmaz.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a before most consonant sounds
• az before vowel sounds

Because intézet begins with a vowel sound (i), Hungarian uses az.

So:

• a ház = the house
• az intézet = the institute

Intézet usually means institute, but depending on context it can also suggest an institution, research institute, or some kind of organized professional establishment.

In this sentence, az intézet is the subject, so it means the institute.

The -t is the accusative ending, which marks the direct object of the sentence.

Base form:

• szakember = specialist / expert / professional

Accusative form:

• szakembert = a specialist / an expert as the object

So the sentence shows that the institute is doing something to/with regard to the specialist: it employs one.

Because the object is indefinite here.

• szakembert = a specialist / an expert
• a szakembert = the specialist / the expert

Hungarian often leaves an indefinite singular noun without any article in object position. That is very normal.

So this sentence means the institute employs a specialist, not necessarily the specialist.

This is a very important Hungarian grammar point: verbs can use indefinite or definite conjugation.

Here the object is indefinite:

• szakembert = a specialist

So Hungarian uses the indefinite conjugation:

• alkalmaz

If the object were definite, Hungarian would usually use the definite conjugation:

• Az intézet a szakembert alkalmazza. = The institute employs the specialist.

So the verb form matches the definiteness of the object.

Here alkalmaz means employs.

But this verb has a broader range of meanings depending on context. It can also mean:

• to apply
• to use
• to employ
• to make use of

For example:

• módszert alkalmaz = uses/applies a method
• munkavállalót alkalmaz = employs a worker

In this sentence, because the object is szakembert, the meaning is clearly employs.

Szakember is a common Hungarian word meaning:

• specialist
• expert
• professional
• sometimes skilled worker, depending on context

It is built from:

• szak = field, profession, specialty
• ember = person

So literally it is something like person of a profession/specialty.

In this sentence, specialist or professional is a natural translation.

The sentence has a very normal, neutral Hungarian word order:

• Az intézet = topic/subject
• szakembert = object
• alkalmaz = verb

So the structure is basically:

Subject + Object + Verb

This is a common neutral order in Hungarian, especially when no special emphasis is intended.

Yes, Hungarian word order is flexible, but changing it often changes the focus or emphasis.

For example:

• Az intézet szakembert alkalmaz.
  Neutral: The institute employs a specialist.

• Szakembert alkalmaz az intézet.
  This can put more emphasis on specialist.

• Az intézet alkalmaz szakembert.
  This is also possible, but it may sound less neutral and can highlight the action a bit differently.

So the original sentence is a straightforward, unmarked version.

Yes. Intézet is the subject here.

You can tell because:

• it has no accusative -t
• it is the thing doing the action
• szakembert clearly has the object marker -t

So even though Hungarian is flexible with word order, case marking still helps show who is doing what.

It is singular.

The base noun is:

• szakember = specialist

Its plural would be:

• szakemberek = specialists

And the plural accusative would be:

• szakembereket = specialists as object

So:

• szakembert = a specialist
• szakembereket = specialists

A simple approximate pronunciation is:

• Az intézet szakembert alkalmaz.
• awz een-tay-zet sok-em-bert awl-kawl-maz

A few useful notes:

• sz is pronounced like English s
• z is like English z
• é is a long ay-like sound
• stress in Hungarian usually falls on the first syllable of each word:
  • INtézet
  • SZAKembert
  • ALkalmaz

Also, Hungarian spelling is quite regular, so pronunciation is more predictable than in English.

Literally, the noun is singular: szakembert.

So the most direct reading is The institute employs a specialist.

However, in some contexts Hungarian singular indefinite objects can sound a bit generic, especially when talking about what an institution does as a general practice. Still, if someone clearly wanted to say specialists in the plural, they would normally use:

• Az intézet szakembereket alkalmaz.

So in isolation, the safest interpretation is singular.

Because Hungarian does not need an extra subject pronoun here.

The subject is already expressed by the noun:

• Az intézet = the institute

Hungarian often leaves out personal pronouns unless they are needed for contrast or emphasis. Since the noun subject is present, nothing else is necessary.

It is in the nominative form, which is the basic dictionary form of the noun.

There is no special ending here because it is the subject:

• intézet = institute

By contrast, the object is marked:

• szakembert = specialist + accusative -t

So the sentence nicely shows the contrast between unmarked subject and marked direct object.