A kérelem a nyilvántartásban van.

Because both nouns are definite.

In Hungarian, a / az is the definite article, like the in English. Here:

• A kérelem = the application/request
• a nyilvántartásban = in the register/record

So Hungarian uses the article before both the subject and the location phrase because both refer to something specific.

A quick note:

• a is used before consonant sounds
• az is used before vowel sounds

So you get a kérelem, not az kérelem.

Kérelem is in the nominative case, which is the basic dictionary form.

In this sentence, it is the subject:

• A kérelem = the application/request

There is no special ending here because Hungarian usually leaves the subject in its basic form.

It is made up of:

• nyilvántartás = register, record, registry
• -ban = in

So:

• nyilvántartásban = in the register / in the records

This is a very common Hungarian pattern: a noun + a case ending instead of a separate preposition.

English says:

• in the register

Hungarian says:

• a nyilvántartásban literally: the register-in

Because Hungarian usually expresses meanings like in, on, at, to, from with suffixes, not separate prepositions.

So instead of:

• in the register

Hungarian uses:

• nyilvántartás-ban

This ending is called the inessive case, and it means in(side).

Other examples:

• házban = in the house
• iskolában = in the school
• szobában = in the room

This is one of the biggest differences from English sentence structure.

This is because of vowel harmony, a central feature of Hungarian.

Hungarian suffixes often have different forms depending on the vowels in the word. For the ending meaning in:

• -ban is used with back-vowel words
• -ben is used with front-vowel words

Nyilvántartás contains back vowels, especially á, so it takes:

• nyilvántartásban

Compare:

• házban = in the house
• kertben = in the garden
• székben = in the chair

So the choice is grammatical, not random.

Excellent question. Hungarian often does leave out van in the present tense, but not in every kind of sentence.

Hungarian usually omits van in simple identification or description sentences:

• A kérelem fontos. = The application is important.
• Ez a kérelem. = This is the application.

But when you say that something is somewhere, Hungarian normally keeps van:

• A kérelem a nyilvántartásban van. = The application is in the register.
• A könyv az asztalon van. = The book is on the table.

So in location sentences, van is normally required.

Yes, this is a very natural, neutral sentence.

Structure:

• A kérelem = topic / what we are talking about
• a nyilvántartásban = location
• van = is

So the sentence presents the application as the topic, then says where it is.

A neutral English-like way to think of it is:

• As for the application, it is in the register.

Hungarian word order is flexible, but it is not random. Moving parts around changes focus, emphasis, or contrast.

Yes, but the meaning or emphasis may change.

The neutral version is:

• A kérelem a nyilvántartásban van.

You may also hear things like:

• A nyilvántartásban van a kérelem.

This can sound more like:

• The application is in the register / It is in the register that the application is

So both can be correct, but the sentence you were given is a very straightforward, standard version.

Not always exactly. Nyilvántartás can refer to a record, registry, official register, or system of records, depending on context.

So this sentence may sound more natural in English as something like:

• The application is in the records.
• The application is on file.
• The application is in the register.

The exact best translation depends on the situation, especially whether the context is legal, administrative, or bureaucratic.

Not only. Kérelem can mean:

• request
• application
• petition in some formal contexts

It is usually a fairly formal word. In administrative or legal contexts, application is often a good translation. In more general formal contexts, request may fit better.

Kérelem is pronounced approximately like:

• KAY-reh-lem

Very roughly:

• ké like kay
• re with a tapped Hungarian r
• lem like lem in lemon without the final on

The -em here is just part of the noun itself. It is not a possessive ending in this sentence. The whole word is simply:

• kérelem = application/request

So do not try to split it into a stem plus grammar ending here.

Yes. This is a location sentence.

It tells you where something is:

• subject: A kérelem
• location: a nyilvántartásban
• verb: van

This matters because Hungarian treats location sentences differently from simple description sentences. That is exactly why van appears here.

So this sentence is useful as a model for many others:

• A levél a fiókban van. = The letter is in the drawer.
• A név a listában van. = The name is in the list.
• A dokumentum a rendszerben van. = The document is in the system.