Mit csinálsz ma?

What are you doing today?

Breakdown of Mit csinálsz ma?

• ma: today
• mi: what
• csinálni: to do

Questions & Answers about Mit csinálsz ma?

What does each word in Mit csinálsz ma? do?

• Mit = “what” in the accusative case (it’s the direct object of the verb).
• csinál-sz = “do” with the 2nd person singular informal ending -sz (present tense, indefinite conjugation).
• ma = “today.”

Why isn’t the subject pronoun te (“you”) used?

Hungarian verb endings show person and number, so csinálsz already tells us it’s “you (singular, informal).” You add te only for emphasis or contrast: Te mit csinálsz ma?

Can I change the word order? For example, Ma mit csinálsz? vs Mit csinálsz ma? vs Mit ma csinálsz?

• Mit csinálsz ma? and Ma mit csinálsz? are both natural. The second one puts slight emphasis on “today.”
• Avoid Mit ma csinálsz? In Hungarian, the question/focus element (here mit) must stand immediately before the finite verb, so you shouldn’t insert ma between mit and csinálsz.

Why is Hungarian using the simple present even though English says “are doing”?

Hungarian doesn’t have a separate continuous (‑ing) form. The simple present covers both “do” and “are doing.” Time words like ma (“today”) can also give it a near-future meaning: “What are you doing today (later)?”

How do I make it explicitly future?

Use fog + infinitive:

• Informal singular: Mit fogsz ma csinálni?
• Formal singular: Mit fog ma csinálni? That said, the plain present with a time word (e.g., ma, holnap) is very common for future plans.

How do I say this to more than one person or politely?

• Informal plural (to friends): Mit csináltok ma?
• Formal singular (to one person politely): Mit csinál ma?
• Formal plural (to a group politely): Mit csinálnak ma?

Why is it csinálsz and not csinálod?

Hungarian has indefinite vs. definite conjugation. Mit (“what?”) is an indefinite object, so you need the indefinite form csinálsz.

• Correct: Mit csinálsz ma?
• Correct (with a definite object): Azt csinálod ma? (“Are you doing that today?”)
• Wrong: Mit csinálod ma?

How do I pronounce Mit csinálsz ma?

• mit: like “meet” but short i (not “ee”).
• cs = “ch” (as in “chocolate”); s = “sh”; sz = “s”.
• csinálsz: approx. “chee-NAHLS” (the á is a long “a” as in “father”; final sz is “s”).
• ma: like “muh” (short, back vowel).
  Stress is always on the first syllable of each word. Overall, wh-questions typically have a falling intonation in Hungarian.

What’s the difference between ma and most?

• ma = “today” (the day as a whole or the remaining part of it).
• most = “now, right now.”
  Examples: Mit csinálsz most? = “What are you doing right now?” vs. Mit csinálsz ma? = “What are you doing today?”

Are there more idiomatic ways to ask about someone’s plans for today?

Yes, common alternatives include:

• Mi a program ma? = “What’s the plan/program today?”
• Mik a terveid mára? = “What are your plans for today?” (note mára = “for today”)
• Mit tervezel mára? = “What do you plan for today?”
• Very casual: Na, ma mit csinálsz? or És te, ma mit csinálsz?

How could I answer this question naturally?

Examples:

• Ma dolgozom. = “I’m working today.”
• Ma moziba megyek. = “I’m going to the cinema today.”
• Ma nem csinálok semmit. = “I’m not doing anything today.” You can bounce it back with És te? = “And you?”

I’ve heard Mi csinálsz ma? without the final -t in mit. Is that okay?

Colloquially, many speakers say Mi csinálsz? The standard, grammar-book form is Mit csinálsz? because the object “what” should be accusative (mit). In everyday speech, you’ll hear both; in writing or careful speech, use mit.

Do I need any special punctuation or intonation?

Use a question mark as in English: Mit csinálsz ma?
Pronunciation-wise, put primary stress on the first syllable of each word, and use a generally falling intonation typical of wh-questions.