Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Szünetben szeretek leülni a padra. - During the break I like to sit down on the bench.

It’s szünet (break) + the inessive suffix -ben (“in”), which often functions as “during” with time words. So Szünetben = “during (the) break.”

Alternatives:

szünet alatt = during the break (a bit more explicit)
szünetkor = at break time (more point-in-time than stretch-of-time)

Why is there no article before Szünetben? Could I say A szünetben?

Time adverbials often drop the article when speaking generally or habitually. Szünetben suggests “during breaks / during the break (in general).”

You can say A szünetben when you mean a specific break that both speakers know about (for example, “during the next break” or “during that particular break”).

Why is it szeretek and not szeretem?

With an infinitive as its complement, szeret uses the indefinite conjugation: first person singular is szeretek. The form szeretem is the definite conjugation and is used when there is a definite direct object (e.g., Szeretem a padot = “I like the bench”). You don’t use szeretem before an infinitive.

What does szeretek imply about time/aspect? Is this a habit?

Yes. Hungarian present tense here is generic/habitual: “I like to…” or “I enjoy…” It states a preference that is generally true, not a one-time event. To state a single event instead, you’d more likely say Szünetben leülök a padra (“During the break I sit down on the bench.”).

Why is the infinitive leülni used after szeretek?

Hungarian verbs like szeret (to like), tud (can), akar (want) commonly take an infinitive to express the activity: szeretek leülni = “I like to sit down.”

What’s the difference between leülni and ülni?

leülni = “to sit down,” the action/motion of getting into a sitting position (perfective, with the preverb le-, “down”).
ülni = “to sit,” the state of being seated.

So leülni a padra is motion onto the bench; ülni a padon is being seated on the bench.

Why is it a padra and not a padon?

Because the verb expresses motion onto a surface. Hungarian uses:

-ra/-re (“onto”) after motion verbs like leül,
-on/-en/-ön (“on”) for static location with ül.

Hence: leülni a padra (onto), but ülni a padon (on).

Why is the ending -ra (and not -re) on padra?

Vowel harmony. pad has a back vowel (a), so it takes the back-vowel variant -ra. With a front-vowel word, you’d use -re (e.g., székre from szék, “chair”).

Where does the preverb le- go? Can its position change?

Default with an infinitive is to keep the preverb attached: leülni. It can move after a focused element:

A padra szeretek leülni (“It’s onto the bench that I like to sit down” — emphasizing the bench). Under negation/focus on the main verb, the preverb typically separates, but here the main verb is szeretek and the infinitive stays as leülni unless you put focus right before it:
Nem szeretek a padra leülni (I don’t like to sit down on the bench).

Can I drop le- and say Szünetben szeretek a padra ülni?

It’s grammatical, because -ra already signals motion, and Hungarian sometimes uses plain ül with directional cases. However, leülni is the most natural, everyday way to say “sit down,” so szeretek leülni a padra is preferred in neutral style.

How would I say “I like sitting on the bench (not the act of sitting down)”?

Use the stative verb and the static case:

Szünetben szeretek a padon ülni.

Why is it a padra (“the bench”) and not egy padra (“a bench”)? Are both possible?

Both are possible, with a nuance:

a padra = a specific, known bench (the one in the yard, etc.), or a typical bench understood from context.
egy padra = onto some bench or other, not a particular one. If you want to mirror English “I like to sit down on a bench” generically, egy padra is a good choice.

Any word order alternatives to express emphasis?

Yes. Hungarian word order is flexible and highlights what comes right before the verb (or the infinitive’s preverb):

Neutral: Szünetben szeretek leülni a padra.
Emphasize the location: Szünetben a padra szeretek leülni (…not onto the grass).
Emphasize the activity: Szünetben leülni szeretek a padra (stylistic; focusing the infinitive).

Pronunciation tips for Szünetben szeretek leülni a padra?

Primary stress is always on the first syllable of each word: SZÜ-net-ben, SZE-re-tek, LE-ül-ni, A, PA-dra.
In szünetben, there’s voicing assimilation: the t of szünet becomes a d before b, so it sounds like szü-ned-ben.
ü is a front rounded vowel (like German ü or French u).
gy, ty aren’t in this sentence; szeretek has sz (like English s in “see”).

Does pad mean “bench” or “desk”?

Both are possible in Hungarian. pad can be a bench (park bench) or a school desk/bench. Context decides. Here, with sitting down during a break, a park or hallway bench is the natural reading; if you meant a school desk, you’d often specify (iskolapad).