Breakdown of A férfi üzenetet küld a testvérének.
küldeni
to send
-nek
to
üzenet
the message
testvér
the sibling
férfi
the man
-e
his
Questions & Answers about A férfi üzenetet küld a testvérének.
What does the -t at the end of üzenetet mean?
It’s the accusative marker, showing that üzenet (message) is the direct object. Some nouns insert a linking vowel before -t, so üzenet + -t becomes üzenetet (not “üzenett”).
Why is the verb küld and not küldi?
Hungarian has two present-tense conjugations: indefinite and definite.
- Use the indefinite verb when the object is indefinite: A férfi üzenetet küld…
- Use the definite verb when the object is definite: A férfi az üzenetet küldi… So with indefinite üzenetet, the verb is the indefinite form küld.
What does the -nek in testvérének do?
-nak/-nek is the dative case, typically meaning “to/for.” Here, a testvérének = “to his/her sibling.” Choice of -nak vs. -nek follows vowel harmony: front vowels → -nek (as in testvér), back vowels → -nak.
How is testvérének formed?
- testvér = sibling
- 3rd-person possessive = testvére (his/her sibling)
- dative = testvérének (to his/her sibling) Note the lengthening: the possessive vowel -e typically becomes long -é when you add another case ending (hence testvéré-).
Does a testvérének necessarily mean “to his own sibling”?
Not necessarily. It just means “to (someone’s) sibling,” usually resolved by context. To make it explicit that it’s the subject’s own sibling, add saját:
- A férfi a saját testvérének küld üzenetet.
To say it’s someone else’s sibling, specify the possessor: - A férfi a barátja testvérének küld üzenetet.
Why is üzenetet placed right before küld? Can I move things around?
Hungarian word order highlights focus immediately before the verb.
- A férfi üzenetet küld a testvérének. (focus on what he sends: a message)
- A férfi a testvérének küld üzenetet. (focus on to whom he sends it: to his sibling)
Both are correct; the difference is emphasis.
Is “A férfi küld üzenetet a testvérének” also correct?
Yes. That’s a more neutral order (Subject–Verb–Object–Indirect object), with less specific focus. It can sound like a habitual/general statement.
Why is there no article before üzenetet? Should I add egy?
No article is fine for an indefinite object. You can add egy to mean “a/one message,” often making “one” more explicit:
- A férfi üzenetet küld… (a message, in general)
- A férfi egy üzenetet küld… (one particular message is being sent)
When do I use a vs. az?
Both mean “the.” Use az before a vowel sound, a before a consonant sound:
- A férfi (consonant f-)
- az apjának (vowel a- in apjának)
How do I say “The man sends the message to his sibling”?
Make the object definite and use the definite verb:
- A férfi az üzenetet küldi a testvérének.
If you want to emphasize completion, use the perfective preverb: - A férfi elküldi az üzenetet a testvérének.
What’s the difference between küld and elküld?
- küld = sends (neutral, ongoing, or habitual)
- elküld = sends off / dispatches (more “completed” or one-off).
With a focused element, the preverb el- may move after the verb: - Focus on the message: Az üzenetet küldi el a testvérének.
Can I replace a testvérének with a pronoun?
Yes, the dative pronoun is neki (to him/her):
- A férfi üzenetet küld neki.
But neki just means “to him/her,” not specifically “to his sibling.” Use the noun if the “sibling” relationship matters.
How do I make it plural (messages, siblings)?
- Messages: A férfi üzeneteket küld a testvérének.
- Siblings: A férfi üzenetet küld a testvéreinek.
- Both: A férfi üzeneteket küld a testvéreinek.
The verb remains indefinite küld because the objects are indefinite.
Why not a testvérére for “to his sibling”?
Different case, different meaning. -ra/-re means “onto/onto the surface.” The recipient of “send to” takes the dative -nak/-nek, hence a testvérének.
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- ü in küld/üzenet- is a front rounded vowel (like German “ü”).
- é in férfi/testvérének is a long “e” (held slightly longer).
- Stress is always on the first syllable of each word: A FÉR-fi Ü-ze-ne-tet KÜLD a TEST-vé-ré-nek.
What is the basic pattern with this verb?
With küld (“send”), the common frame is:
- küld valakinek valamit = send something to someone
Here: (valamit) üzenetet and (valakinek) a testvérének.
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