Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ez a ház itt van, az asztal ott van.

In Hungarian, when pointing out a specific object with ez (this), it's common to place the definite article a between ez and the noun. So Ez a ház literally means This the house but it’s the correct way to refer to this house in Hungarian.

What’s the difference between 'itt' and 'ott'?

Itt means here (near the speaker), and ott means there (away from the speaker). In the sentence, itt places the house close to the speaker, while ott indicates the table is farther away.

Can I omit 'van' in this sentence?

In general, van is necessary to express "is" in Hungarian when describing the location of something. However, in certain situations (especially with adjectives describing a subject), Hungarians often drop van. But for stating locations as in the given example, it's best to keep van.

Why is there a comma in the sentence?

The comma separates two independent clauses: one about the house and one about the table. Each clause has its own subject and predicate. So you have Ez a ház itt van (This house is here) and az asztal ott van (the table is there).

Does word order matter if I put the location first?

Hungarian word order is flexible, but subtle emphasis changes can occur. Itt van ez a ház still means This house is here, yet it puts more stress on itt (here). The most neutral way is Ez a ház itt van, as in the original sentence.