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Sokan vannak itt.

Sokan vannak itt.
Many people are here.
FromLesson 6inHardcore Hungarian

Breakdown of Sokan vannak itt.

lenni
to be
itt
here
sokan
many people

Questions & Answers about Sokan vannak itt.

What exactly does the word sokan mean here?
Sokan is a quantifier pronoun meaning many (people). It stands on its own without a noun and refers to people by default. If you want to talk about non-people (things), you don’t use sokan—you use sok + a noun (e.g., sok könyv = many books).
Why do we need the verb vannak? I thought Hungarian often drops “to be” in the present.

Hungarian drops the 3rd‑person present of van (to be) only in equational or descriptive sentences (e.g., Ő tanár. = He is a teacher). In locative/existential sentences (saying something exists or is located somewhere), you must keep van/vannak:

  • A könyv az asztalon van. (The book is on the table.)
  • Sokan vannak itt. (Many people are here.)
Why is it plural vannak and not singular van?

Because sokan is inherently plural. With sokan, the verb agrees in the 3rd‑person plural: vannak. Contrast this with sok ember (many people), where the noun stays singular and the verb is usually singular:

  • Sokan vannak itt.
  • Sok ember van itt.
What’s the difference between sokan and sok ember?

They’re near‑synonyms in meaning, but:

  • sokan = pronoun, “many (people),” requires plural agreement: Sokan vannak itt.
  • sok ember = “many people” (quantifier + noun), usually takes singular agreement: Sok ember van itt. Style-wise, sokan is a bit more compact/colloquial; sok ember is more explicit.
Why can’t I say sok emberek vannak itt?
After sok (“many”), the noun stays in the singular form: sok ember, not sok emberek. And with sok ember, the verb is typically singular: Sok ember van itt.
Are there other natural word orders, and do they change the emphasis?

Yes. Hungarian word order is focus-driven (the focused element goes right before the verb). All below are grammatical, but the emphasis shifts:

  • Sokan vannak itt. (Focus on “many”: There are many here.)
  • Itt sokan vannak. (Topic “here,” focus still on “many.”)
  • Itt vannak sokan. (Focus on “here”: It’s here that many are.)
  • Sokan itt vannak. (Topic “many (of them),” focus on “here”: As for many of them, they are here.)
Can I start with the verb: Vannak itt sokan?
Yes, especially in existential contexts (“There are … here”). Vannak itt sokan is fine and reads like “There are many here,” often used to introduce the existence of such a group.
How do I turn it into a yes–no question (“Are there many people here?”)?

Use rising intonation and a question mark. Several options:

  • Sokan vannak itt?
  • Sok ember van itt?
  • Van itt sok ember? All are natural. You can also add Ugye for a confirmation-seeking tone: Ugye sokan vannak itt?
How do I negate it (“There aren’t many people here”)?

Use the special negative forms nincs/nincsenek (not nem van/ vannak):

  • Nincsenek itt sokan.
  • Nincs itt sok ember.
How do I say it in past or future?
  • Past: Sokan voltak itt. / Sok ember volt itt.
  • Future: Sokan lesznek itt. / Sok ember lesz itt.
How do I say “There are many of us/you/them here”?
  • “many of us”: Sokan vagyunk itt.
  • “many of you”: Sokan vagytok itt.
  • “many of them”: Sokan vannak itt.
What’s the difference between itt and ide?
  • itt = “here” (static location): Sokan vannak itt.
  • ide = “to here” (motion towards here): Sokan jönnek ide. (Many are coming here.)
Does sokan always refer to people? What about animals or things?

Sokan is primarily used for people. For animals or things, use sok + noun:

  • People: Sokan vannak itt.
  • Animals/things: Sok állat van itt. / Sok szék van itt.
How do you pronounce Sokan vannak itt?
Hungarian s sounds like English “sh”. Roughly: “SHO-kahn VON-nok EET”. Primary stress is always on the first syllable of each word: SO‑kan VAN‑nak ITT.
Are there useful variants/synonyms for “many” here?

Yes:

  • Nagyon sokan vannak itt. (There are a lot of people here.)
  • Rengetegen vannak itt. (There are loads of people here.)
  • Opposite: Kevesen vannak itt. (There are few people here.)

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