Learn Hardcore Hungarian: A jegy ma drága, ezért holnap megyünk. - The ticket is expensive today, so we go tomorrow.

In Hungarian, the definite article has two forms: a before words beginning with a consonant sound, and az before a vowel sound. Jegy starts with consonant j, so it's A jegy = "the ticket."

Could A jegy ma drága mean "tickets are expensive today" in general?

By default it’s about a specific ticket (e.g., the ticket for that event/route) being expensive today. For a general statement, Hungarian typically uses the plural: Ma drágák a jegyek or A jegyek ma drágák = "Tickets are expensive today."

Why is there no word for "is" (van) in A jegy ma drága?

Hungarian drops the copula van in 3rd person present when the predicate is a noun or adjective: A jegy drága, A film jó. You do use van for existence/location or in other tenses/persons: A jegy a pénztárban van; A jegy drága volt.

Where can I put ma, and does the word order change the meaning?

Both are correct:

A jegy ma drága.
Ma drága a jegy. The difference is subtle and about topic–comment: the first starts with "the ticket" as the topic; the second starts with "today" as the topic. Both mean the same in everyday use. Avoid Drága ma a jegy unless you have a special focus on drága.

Why is megyünk present tense if the meaning is future?

Hungarian often uses the present for scheduled/near-future actions when a time word makes the timing clear: Holnap megyünk = "We will go tomorrow." A future form with fog is possible but less neutral here: Holnap menni fogunk / Holnap el fogunk menni (more emphatic or deliberate).

What exactly does ezért mean, and how is it different from mert, szóval, or úgyhogy?

ezért = "therefore/for that reason." It introduces the consequence: …, ezért holnap megyünk.
mert = "because." It introduces the reason: Holnap megyünk, mert ma drága a jegy.
szóval and úgyhogy ≈ "so," more colloquial: …, szóval/úgyhogy holnap megyünk. Register: ezért is neutral/formal; szóval/úgyhogy are informal.

Is the comma before ezért required?

Yes. You separate the two clauses with a comma before connective adverbs like ezért: A jegy ma drága, ezért holnap megyünk.

Do I need to say the pronoun "we" (mi) in holnap megyünk?

No. The verb ending -ünk already encodes "we." You add mi only for emphasis or contrast: Mi holnap megyünk ("We, as opposed to others, are going tomorrow").

What does the -ünk ending in megyünk tell me?

It marks 1st person plural present, indefinite conjugation. Full present (indefinite) paradigm of menni:

megyek, mész, megy, megyünk, mentek, mennek.

Is there a definite-conjugation version of megyünk?

No. Menni is intransitive (no direct object), so only the indefinite conjugation is used. Definite vs. indefinite matters with transitive verbs that have a definite object.

Could I use elmegyünk instead of megyünk?

Yes. Elmegyünk adds the prefix el-, focusing on the complete action of "going (away/there)." In many contexts both Holnap megyünk and Holnap elmegyünk are fine; el- can sound a bit more decisive or like "we’ll head off."

Is Holnap megyünk the only natural word order? What about Megyünk holnap?

Neutral is Holnap megyünk (time first). Megyünk holnap is possible in speech but marked—often used as an answer emphasizing the verb or for contrast. Default: put time adverbs early.

How do I say "Tickets are expensive today"?

Use the plural for both noun and adjective: Ma drágák a jegyek or A jegyek ma drágák. Note the plural adjective drágák and plural noun jegyek.

Does drága change for gender or number?

Hungarian has no grammatical gender. In the singular it’s drága; with a plural subject it takes -k: drágák (e.g., A jegyek drágák).

Can ezért start a new sentence?

Yes. You can split it into two sentences: A jegy ma drága. Ezért holnap megyünk. Starting with Ezért is common and natural.

Is there any difference between A jegy ma drága and Ma drága a jegy in emphasis?

Slightly. A jegy ma drága foregrounds "the ticket" (we’re talking about that ticket), while Ma drága a jegy foregrounds "today" (as opposed to other days). In everyday speech, both are interchangeable for most purposes.

How would I say "We are going tomorrow because the ticket is expensive today"?

Switch to mert to introduce the reason: Holnap megyünk, mert ma drága a jegy.

Anything to know about pronunciation here?

Stress is always on the first syllable: A JE-gy ma DRÁ-ga, EZ-ért HOL-nap ME-gyünk.
á is a long "a" (as in "father" but longer).
gy is a soft "dy" sound.
ü in megyünk is a front rounded vowel (like French u). Rounded lips, tongue as for English "ee."