Portalanítjuk a radiátort, hacsak nem tiszta.

We remove dust from the radiator unless it is clean.

Breakdown of Portalanítjuk a radiátort, hacsak nem tiszta.

• az: the
• tiszta: clean
• hacsak nem: unless
• radiátor: a radiator

Questions & Answers about Portalanítjuk a radiátort, hacsak nem tiszta.

Why is there no word for we in Portalanítjuk?

Hungarian usually leaves subject pronouns out when the verb ending already shows the subject.

Here, portalanítjuk tells you that the subject is we:

• -juk / -jük = we ... it/them in the definite conjugation

So mi (we) is not necessary unless you want extra emphasis:

• (Mi) portalanítjuk a radiátort.

What exactly does portalanítjuk break down into?

Portalanítjuk can be analyzed like this:

• por = dust
• portalanít = to remove dust from, to dust off
• -juk = we with a definite object

So portalanítjuk means we dust it / we are dusting it / we will dust it, depending on context.

This is a good example of how Hungarian often builds verbs from a noun plus a verbal ending:

• por → portalanít = make dust-free, roughly speaking

Why is it a radiátort and not just radiátor?