Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Te érted a kérdést? - Do you understand the question?

You don’t have to say Te. Hungarian usually omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person. Érted a kérdést? is the neutral, most common form. Including Te adds contrastive emphasis: Te érted a kérdést? = “Is it YOU who understands (as opposed to someone else)?”

Why is it érted and not értesz?

Hungarian verbs have two present-tense conjugations:

Indefinite (used with no object or an indefinite/unspecified object): értesz.
Definite (used with a specific/definite object): érted. Because a kérdést is a definite object, the verb must be in definite conjugation: érted. Compare:
Értesz magyarul? (indefinite; no specific object)
Érted ezt a mondatot? (definite; “this sentence” is specific)

Why does kérdést end in -t?

That -t is the accusative ending marking a direct object. Many nouns attach -t directly; others need a linking vowel (e.g., könyv → könyvet). Here, kérdés → kérdést (no extra vowel).

Why is the article a used here and not az?

Hungarian uses a before a consonant sound and az before a vowel sound. Since kérdés starts with a consonant (k), it’s a kérdést. Before a vowel-initial noun you’d say az autót, for example.

Does word order change the meaning or emphasis?

Yes. The element immediately before the finite verb is typically in focus.

Érted a kérdést? neutral yes/no question.
Te érted a kérdést? focuses the subject (“Is it YOU who understands?”).
A kérdést érted? focuses the object (“Is it the question that you understand (not something else)?”).

How are yes/no questions formed? Do I need inversion or an auxiliary like “do”?

No auxiliary or inversion is needed. Hungarian keeps the normal order and uses rising intonation (and a question mark in writing): Érted a kérdést?

How should I pronounce the letters here, especially s, sz, and é?

Hungarian s is pronounced like English “sh” [ʃ]. So kérdést ends with [ʃt], not [st].
sz is English “s.”
é is a long “e” sound (close to the vowel in “café,” held longer).
Word stress is always on the first syllable of each word: ÉR-ted a KÉR-dést.

How do I say this politely/formally?

Use the formal pronoun Ön with third-person definite conjugation: Ön érti a kérdést? Often the pronoun is omitted: Érti a kérdést? (still formal from the verb form).

How do I address multiple people?

Informal plural: Értitek a kérdést? (optionally Ti értitek a kérdést? for emphasis). Formal plural: Önök értik a kérdést? (again, Önök can be omitted: Értik a kérdést?).

How do I make it negative?

Put nem before the verb: Nem érted a kérdést? For added contrastive emphasis on the subject: Te nem érted a kérdést?

How do I say “the questions” (plural) in this structure?

Plural object takes -k, and the accusative plural is -ket here:

a kérdések (the questions)
a kérdéseket (the questions, as a direct object) So: Érted a kérdéseket?

What’s the difference between érted and megérted?

meg- adds a perfective/completive sense.

Érted a kérdést? asks about present understanding.
Megérted a kérdést? tends to mean “Will you manage to understand it (with explanation)?” or “Do you (ever) grasp it?” In the past, Megértetted a kérdést? is “Did you get it (at that moment)?”

Is there a question particle I can use, like -e?

Yes, the enclitic -e makes a formal/old-fashioned question. It attaches to the focused element (often the verb):

Érted-e a kérdést?
Te érted-e a kérdést? (focus on “you”)
A kérdést érted-e? (focus on the object)

Should te be capitalized?

Normally no: te is lowercase. Capitalization is common with formal Ön/Önök (especially in letters) and sometimes with Te in religious or very intimate/ceremonial contexts, but in ordinary usage you write te.

Can I drop the article and say Érted kérdést?

Not in this meaning. With a specific object, Hungarian normally uses the definite article: Érted a kérdést? Dropping the article either sounds ungrammatical here or changes the meaning in unnatural ways.

How do I answer this naturally?

Affirmative: Igen, értem.
Negative: Nem, nem értem.
Contradicting a negative question (e.g., “Don’t you…?”): De, értem! (Yes, I do!)