A víz a falon folyik.

Because Hungarian uses the definite article separately before each definite noun.

• a víz = the water
• a falon = on the wall, with a fal literally the wall

So unlike English, where a preposition can come before a noun phrase, Hungarian marks the location directly on the noun with a suffix, but the article still stays in front of the noun.

Here, a is the singular definite article, meaning the.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a before most consonants
• az before vowels

So:

• a fal = the wall
• az ablak = the window

Because Hungarian usually expresses meanings like on, in, at, from, to with case suffixes added to the noun.

• fal = wall
• falon = on the wall

So the -on ending is doing the job that on does in English.

In this sentence, -on is the superessive case ending, which usually means on a surface.

• a falon = on the wall
• az asztalon = on the table
• a földön = on the ground

It is commonly used when something is located on the surface of something.

These are different forms of the same case ending. Hungarian vowel harmony and sound patterns determine which version is used.

Common forms are:

• -on
• -en
• -ön
• sometimes -n

Examples:

• falon = on the wall
• széken = on the chair
• földön = on the ground
• asztalon = on the table

So learners usually need to memorize the correct form together with the noun, at least at first.

Folyik is the 3rd person singular present tense form of the verb folyni, meaning to flow.

So:

• folyni = to flow
• folyik = it flows / is flowing

Since a víz is singular, folyik matches it.

Because folyni belongs to a group of Hungarian verbs often called -ik verbs. In the 3rd person singular present, these verbs often end in -ik.

For example:

• eszik = he/she/it eats
• alszik = he/she/it sleeps
• folyik = it flows

This -ik is part of the normal dictionary pattern for certain verbs. It does not mean the same thing as English -ing.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Hungarian present tense often covers both:

• a general statement: Water flows on the wall
• an action happening now: The water is flowing on the wall

If the wider context makes it clear that it is happening right now, Hungarian often does not need a separate form like English is flowing.

This is a neutral, natural word order: subject + location + verb.

• A víz = the subject
• a falon = the location
• folyik = the verb

Hungarian word order is flexible, and changing it can shift emphasis.

For example:

• A víz a falon folyik. = neutral
• A falon folyik a víz. = emphasizes on the wall
• Folyik a víz a falon. = often feels more descriptive or event-focused

So the sentence you were given is a standard, straightforward version.

Yes, in many contexts that is a very natural English translation.

Hungarian a falon folyik literally says flows on the wall, but with water, English often prefers down the wall if the motion is understood to be downward.

So the Hungarian focuses on the surface/location, while English may choose a more natural motion expression depending on context.

Because Hungarian usually uses suffixes instead of separate prepositions.

English:

• on the wall

Hungarian:

• a fal-on
• literally: the wall-on

This is one of the biggest structural differences between English and Hungarian. Instead of learning many prepositions, you often learn noun case endings.

A simple pronunciation guide:

• víz: roughly veez
• falon: roughly faw-lon
• folyik: roughly fo-yik

A few useful points:

• í is a long ee sound
• a in Hungarian is more open than English a, closer to aw in many accents
• ly in modern Hungarian is pronounced like j, so folyik sounds like foyik

So folyik is approximately fo-yik, not fol-ik.

Yes. A víz is the subject, because it is the thing doing the action of flowing.

• A víz = the water
• folyik = flows
• a falon = on the wall

So the basic structure is: The water flows on the wall.

Yes, and it means something slightly different in nuance.

• A víz a falon folyik. = the water is flowing on the wall
• Víz folyik a falon. = water is flowing on the wall

Without a, víz becomes more indefinite or less specifically identified. In English, that often comes out as water rather than the water.

So both are possible, but the version with a víz refers to specific water already known or visible in the context.