Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ez a gyümölcs jó.

In Hungarian, when you use a demonstrative like ez (this) or az (that) right before a noun, you still add the definite article a (or az before a vowel). So ez a gyümölcs literally translates to this the fruit in a word-by-word sense, but it’s the standard way to say this fruit in Hungarian.

Why is van (the verb “to be”) missing in this sentence?

In Hungarian, you normally omit the present-tense form of van (is/are) when talking about someone or something’s identity or quality in the third person singular. For example, Ez a gyümölcs jó — you don’t need to say Ez a gyümölcs van jó.

How do you pronounce the word gyümölcs?

It might look tricky, but you can break it down like gyü + mölcs. The gy is like the “d” + “y” sound in “did you,” but a bit softer. The ü is a front rounded vowel, similar to the “u” in French “tu.” And ö is another front rounded vowel, as in the German “schön.”

What is the difference between jó and jól in Hungarian?

Jó is an adjective meaning good (e.g., Ez jó = This is good), whereas jól is an adverb meaning well (e.g., Jól vagyok = I’m well/I’m fine). Since you’re describing the fruit’s quality, jó is the correct choice.