Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ez az alma lédús.

In Hungarian, a demonstrative pronoun (ez = "this") usually pairs with the definite article (az = "the") before the noun. So for "this apple," you say ez az alma rather than ez alma.

Should there be a form of "to be" (like van) in this sentence?

Hungarian often omits the verb van ("to be") in the third-person singular present tense when describing states or attributes. So Ez az alma lédús. is perfectly correct without van.

What does lédús mean exactly, and can I use it with other nouns?

Lédús translates to "juicy," typically referring to something containing a lot of juice. You can use it with other fruits (for example, Ez a körte lédús – "This pear is juicy"). It’s generally used with foods, especially fruits.

Why is it az in Ez az alma? Doesn't az mean "that"?

Az can mean "that" when used as a demonstrative pronoun. However, it also serves as the definite article before nouns starting with a vowel. Here, alma begins with the vowel "a," so the correct definite article is az.

Is the sentence structure flexible? Could I say Lédús ez az alma?

Yes, Hungarian word order is generally flexible, so Lédús ez az alma is still understandable. However, Ez az alma lédús is the most straightforward way to say "This apple is juicy." Changing word order can shift emphasis or sound less natural, depending on context.