Learn Hardcore Hungarian: A tanár autóval megy a repülőtérre.

In Hungarian, to express “by (means of) X” you use the instrumental suffix -val/–vel. It shows the tool or means. Since autó (“car”) ends in back vowels (a, u, o), you attach -val (not -vel), giving autóval = “by car.”

Why does tanár have the article a in A tanár, and how do I choose between a vs. az?

Hungarian uses definite articles much like English “the.” You use a before words starting with a consonant sound, and az before words starting with a vowel sound. Here tanár (“teacher”) begins with a consonant, so it takes a → a tanár = “the teacher.”

What does the suffix -re in repülőtérre indicate, and why is there also an article a before it?

The suffix -ra/–re is the directional (sublative) case meaning “onto” or “towards” a destination. repülőtér (“airport”) has front vowels (e, ü, ő, é), so you use -re, forming repülőtérre = “to the airport.” The article a marks that it’s a specific or known airport: a repülőtérre = “to the airport.”

Why are there two r’s in repülőtérre? Should one of them drop out?

When a noun ends in r and you add a suffix beginning with r, you keep both. So repülőtér + -re → repülőtérre. Hungarian orthography allows the double r here.

Why is the verb megy used here? Could I use utazik instead?

megy is the simple verb “go” (3rd person singular present of menni). It focuses on the act of going. utazik means “travel” and often emphasizes the journey or implies a longer trip. In this context megy is the most neutral choice for “goes.”

Is A tanár autóval megy a repülőtérre the only possible word order? Could I say Autóval megy a tanár a repülőtérre?

Hungarian has flexible word order. The given order (Subject–Instrument–Verb–Destination) is neutral. Placing autóval at the front (Autóval megy a tanár a repülőtérre) would emphasize “by car”. You can reorder elements to shift focus, as long as the suffixes remain attached correctly.

Can I drop the article before repülőtérre and say simply Tanár autóval megy repülőtérre?

With certain “institutional” or routine destinations (like iskolába “to school”), Hungarian often omits the article. Repülőtérre megyek (no article) can mean “I’m going to an airport” in a general sense. But if you mean “the airport” (a particular one), include a: a repülőtérre.

What’s the difference between the directional suffixes -ra/–re and the dative-like suffixes -hoz/–hez/–höz?

Both can express movement toward something but with nuance:

-ra/–re = “onto, onto the surface of, or to a point” (e.g. asztalra teszi “puts it onto the table,” repülőtérre megy “goes to the airport”).
-hoz/–hez/–höz = “to the side of, near, or towards” a place or person, often implying approach rather than arrival (e.g. házig jössz? “Are you coming to the house [side/area of]?”).
Choose -ra/–re for direct “to” destinations you enter or reach.