Questions & Answers about A gombra kattintunk.
What does a mean, and why is it a rather than az?
A is the Hungarian definite article, so it means the.
Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:
- a before a consonant
- az before a vowel
Since gombra starts with g, the sentence uses a gombra.
Why is it gombra and not just gomb?
Because Hungarian usually marks the noun’s role with a suffix.
Here, gomb means button, and -ra is a case ending. So:
- gomb = button
- gombra = onto / on the button
With the verb kattint in this meaning, Hungarian normally uses -ra/-re:
kattint valamire = click on something
So A gombra kattintunk literally works like We click onto the button, even though natural English is just We click on the button or We click the button.
Why is it gombra and not gombot?
Because kattint is commonly used with the -ra/-re ending, not as a simple direct object in this pattern.
Compare:
- megnyomjuk a gombot = we press the button
- here gombot is a direct object
- a gombra kattintunk = we click on the button
- here gombra is a noun with the -ra case ending
So the difference is tied to the verb pattern:
- megnyom valamit = press something
- kattint valamire = click on something
Why is the ending -ra and not -re?
Because of vowel harmony, which is a major feature of Hungarian.
Hungarian suffixes often come in a back-vowel and front-vowel version:
- -ra after back-vowel words
- -re after front-vowel words
Gomb contains the back vowel o, so it takes -ra:
- gomb → gombra
A front-vowel noun would take -re instead.
Is gombra one word or two?
It is one word.
Hungarian case endings attach directly to the noun:
- gomb
- -ra = gombra
But the article stays separate:
- a gombra
So the structure is:
- a = the
- gombra = onto/on the button
What does kattintunk mean grammatically?
Kattintunk is the verb form meaning we click.
It breaks down like this:
- kattint = click
- -unk = we (1st person plural)
So:
- kattintok = I click
- kattintasz = you click
- kattint = he/she/it clicks
- kattintunk = we click
This is present tense, indicative mood.
Why is there no separate word for we in the sentence?
Because Hungarian verb endings usually already show the subject.
The ending -unk in kattintunk tells you the subject is we, so the pronoun mi is not necessary.
You can say Mi kattintunk, but that adds emphasis, for example:
- Mi kattintunk, nem ők. = We are the ones clicking, not them.
In a normal sentence, Hungarian usually leaves the pronoun out.
Is this sentence a statement, or can it also be used like an instruction?
Grammatically, it is a statement in the present tense: we click.
But in real usage, especially in manuals, tutorials, and software instructions, Hungarian often uses 1st person plural present to describe the next step:
- A gombra kattintunk.
- Ezután kiválasztjuk a fájlt.
- Majd bezárjuk az ablakot.
This can sound like an instructional Now we click the button.
If you wanted Let’s click the button, Hungarian would normally use a different form:
- Kattintsunk a gombra.
Why does the sentence start with A gombra? Could I also say Kattintunk a gombra?
Yes, Kattintunk a gombra is also possible.
Hungarian word order is more flexible than English word order, and it often reflects topic and emphasis rather than strict grammatical roles.
- A gombra kattintunk puts the button first as the topic.
- Kattintunk a gombra is also natural and may feel a bit more straightforward in some contexts.
So the sentence you have is not strange at all; it just presents the button as the starting point of the message.
Does gomb only mean a physical button, or can it also mean a button on a screen?
It can mean both.
Depending on context, gomb may refer to:
- a physical button
- a button on a device
- a button in a computer program or on a website
So in modern everyday Hungarian, gomb is perfectly normal for a digital on-screen button too.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning HungarianMaster Hungarian — from A gombra kattintunk 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