Portalanítjuk a radiátort, hacsak nem tiszta.

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.

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

Because radiátort is the accusative form, used for the direct object of the verb.

• radiátor = radiator
• radiátort = radiator + -t accusative ending

Since the radiator is what gets dusted, it takes the accusative:

• Portalanítjuk a radiátort. = We dust the radiator.

The a is the definite article the.

Because Hungarian has two kinds of verb conjugation:

• indefinite conjugation
• definite conjugation

You use the definite conjugation when the object is definite, like:

• a radiátort = the radiator

So:

• portalanítunk = we dust / we are dusting (something, not specifically identified)
• portalanítjuk a radiátort = we dust the radiator

This is one of the most important patterns in Hungarian grammar.

Hacsak nem is a fixed expression meaning unless.

So in this sentence:

• hacsak nem tiszta = unless it is clean

Even though nem usually means not, in hacsak nem you should learn the whole phrase as one unit meaning unless.

This is very important:

• hacsak nem tiszta = unless it is clean
• ha nem tiszta = if it is not clean

Those mean different things.

In Hungarian, the verb van (is) is usually omitted in the present tense in the third person when the predicate is a noun or adjective.

So:

• A radiátor tiszta. = The radiator is clean.
• literally: The radiator clean.

That is completely normal Hungarian.

So hacsak nem tiszta is really:

• unless it is clean

with the is understood.

It refers to a radiátor.

Hungarian often leaves out repeated subjects when they are clear from context. So after a radiátort, the clause hacsak nem tiszta naturally means:

• unless it is clean
• where it = the radiator

You do not need to repeat a radiátor again.

Because Hungarian word order is much more flexible than English, and it depends a lot on topic, focus, and what is already understood.

Here the subject we is omitted, so starting with the verb is perfectly natural:

• Portalanítjuk a radiátort...

This can feel like a neutral statement, especially when the subject is already obvious.

Other word orders are possible in different contexts, but this one is completely normal.

Formally, it is present tense. But Hungarian often uses the present tense for future meaning when the context makes it clear.

So Portalanítjuk a radiátort, hacsak nem tiszta. can naturally mean:

• We’re dusting the radiator, unless it’s clean or
• We’ll dust the radiator, unless it’s clean

The exact time depends on context.

Yes, it is a normal and understandable verb, especially in cleaning contexts. It means to remove dust from something.

Depending on context, Hungarian speakers might also use other verbs for cleaning actions, but portalanít is perfectly good here because the focus is specifically on dust removal.

So this sentence sounds like:

• cleaning language
• household/maintenance language
• a deliberate action of dusting off the radiator