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Questions & Answers about A kapu lassan nyílik.
Why is the article A used before kapu instead of Az?
In Hungarian you have two definite articles: a before words beginning with a consonant, and az before words beginning with a vowel. Kapu (gate) starts with k, a consonant, so you use a. If the noun began with a vowel—say ajtó (door) with an initial a—you’d say az ajtó.
What is kapu, and why isn’t there any ending or suffix on it?
Kapu is a singular, common noun in the nominative case (“gate”). In Hungarian, the basic form of a noun—without plural, possessive, accusative, or other endings—is the nominative singular. Here it’s the subject of the sentence, so no extra ending is needed.
What does lassan mean, and why isn’t it just lassú?
Lassan means slowly.
- Lassú is an adjective meaning slow (e.g. “a slow car” = egy lassú autó).
- To turn an adjective into an adverb in Hungarian, you usually add -an or -en (here lassú → lassan). So you have mennék lassan (“I would go slowly”), ő jár gyorsan (“he walks quickly”), etc.
Why is the verb nyílik used instead of nyit or a passive form?
- Nyit is a transitive verb meaning to open (something), e.g. Én nyitom az ajtót (“I open the door”).
- Nyílik is the intransitive (autoactive) counterpart meaning it opens/it’s opening by itself. It does not take a direct object.
- Hungarian doesn’t really have a separate “passive” voice in everyday use; it prefers intransitive autoactive forms like nyílik or reflexive constructions.
Why is there no object after nyílik? Isn’t “to open” usually transitive?
Because nyílik is the intransitive form. It describes the gate doing the opening on its own—“the gate opens”—so there is no direct object. If you wanted “I open the gate,” you’d say Én kinyitom a kaput (transitive kinyit + accusative kaput).
Can the word order change? What if I say Lassan nyílik a kapu instead?
Yes, Hungarian word order is relatively flexible and is used to mark emphasis or focus.
- A kapu lassan nyílik. is a neutral statement (“The gate is opening slowly.”)
- Lassan nyílik a kapu. puts the focus on how it’s opening—“Slowly, the gate is opening.”
- You could even say A kapu nyílik lassan. but that is less common; it simply tacks the adverb on at the end, with no strong additional emphasis.
How do I turn this into a question like “Is the gate opening slowly?”
You have a few options:
1) Simply use rising intonation and no change in word order:
- A kapu lassan nyílik?
2) Front the adverb for style and intonation: - Lassan nyílik a kapu?
3) Add the question particle -e (more formal/literary): - Lassan nyílik-e a kapu?
In spoken Hungarian, most people just rely on intonation (option 1 or 2).
How would I say “The gates are opening slowly” in Hungarian?
You need to pluralize both noun and verb:
- A kapuk (plural of a kapu)
- lassan nyílnak (3rd person plural of nyílik)
So: A kapuk lassan nyílnak.
What tense is nyílik? Does Hungarian have a continuous/progressive like “is opening”?
Nyílik is the simple present tense, 3rd person singular. Hungarian does not differentiate between simple present and present continuous—the one present form covers both. In English you get “opens” vs “is opening,” but in Hungarian nyílik can mean “it opens” or “it is opening,” depending on context.
How do I pronounce nyílik, and where is the stress?
- Ny is pronounced like the ñ in Spanish niño, a palatal nasal [ɲ].
- Nyílik is pronounced roughly [ˈɲiːlik].
- Stress in Hungarian is always on the first syllable of each word, so you stress NYÍ- and then a light -lik.