Ez az enyém, az a tiéd.

This one is mine, that one is yours.

Breakdown of Ez az enyém, az a tiéd.

• ez: this
• lenni: to be
• tiéd: yours
• enyém: mine
• az: that

Questions & Answers about Ez az enyém, az a tiéd.

Why does it say Ez az...? Doesn’t that literally mean “this that”?

No. Here the pieces belong to different things:

• ez = “this” (demonstrative)
• az enyém = “the mine” = “mine” (Hungarian uses the definite article with standalone possessive pronouns)

So Ez az enyém parses as “This [is] mine,” not “this that mine.”

Similarly in the second clause, az = “that” (demonstrative), and a tiéd = “the yours.”

Where is the verb “to be”? Why isn’t there a van?

In present tense, 3rd person, Hungarian usually drops the copula in simple identification sentences:

• Ez az enyém. = “This is mine.” (no verb)
• You must not say: Ez van az enyém. (wrong here)

You use van for existence/location: Itt van. (“It is here.”), or in past/future: Ez volt az enyém. / Ez lesz az enyém.

Why are there articles before enyém and tiéd?

Standalone possessive pronouns in Hungarian normally take the definite article:

• az enyém = “mine”
• a tiéd = “yours”

Exception: in very short answers you can drop it: —Kié ez? (“Whose is this?”) —Enyém. (“Mine.”)

What’s going on with az a tiéd? Why are there two “a/az” in a row?

They’re different words with different jobs:

• az (first) is the demonstrative “that”
• a (second) is the definite article that belongs to tiéd So az a tiéd = “that is yours.”

Can I say Ez enyém or Az tiéd without the article?

In full sentences, no—keep the article: Ez az enyém, az a tiéd. You can drop the article only in short elliptical answers: —Kié? —Enyém.

How do I pronounce enyém and tiéd? Do the accents mark stress?

• Stress in Hungarian is always on the first syllable of each word.
• The accents mark vowel length/quality, not stress.
• enyém: EN-yém. The ny is like the “ny” in “canyon.” The é is a long “eh/ay”-like vowel.
• tiéd: TI-éd. í is a long “ee,” é as above.

Approximate English-y hints: enyém ~ “EN-yame,” tiéd ~ “TEE-ayd.”

What do enyém and tiéd come from morphologically?

They’re possessive pronouns built from personal pronouns + the -é “possessor” suffix, with linking sounds:

• én → enyém (“mine”)
• te → tiéd (“yours” sg) Others you’ll see:
• ő → övé (“his/hers”)
• mi → miénk (“ours”)
• ti → tiétek (“yours” pl)
• ők → övék (“theirs”)

When do I use ez vs az?

• ez = “this” (near the speaker)
• az = “that” (farther/previously mentioned) Plurals: ezek = “these,” azok = “those.” Examples: Ez a tiéd. (“This is yours.”) Az az enyém. (“That is mine.”)

Why is there a comma between the two parts?

They’re two independent clauses joined with a pause: “This is mine, that is yours.” You could also use a connector:

• Ez az enyém, az pedig a tiéd.
• Ez az enyém, és az a tiéd.

If I’m speaking to more than one person, what changes?

Use the 2nd person plural form tiétek:

• Ez az enyém, az a tiétek. = “This is mine, that is yours (you all).”

How do I say it with plural objects (“these/those are mine/yours”)?

Use plural demonstratives and plural possessed forms:

• Ezek az enyéim, azok a tiéid. = “These are mine, those are yours.” Plural possessive pronouns:
• mine: enyéim
• yours (sg): tiéid
• his/hers: övéi
• ours: mieink
• yours (pl): tieitek
• theirs: övéik

What’s the difference between “your” and “yours” in Hungarian?

• Attributive “your + noun”: (a) te könyved = “your book”
• Pronominal “yours”: (a) tiéd Examples:
• Ez a (te) könyved. = “This is your book.”
• Ez a tiéd. = “This is yours.”

Can I flip the word order for emphasis?

Yes. Fronting the possessive pronoun adds contrast:

• Az enyém ez, a tiéd az. = “Mine is this one; yours is that one.” Neutral is the original: Ez az enyém, az a tiéd.

How do I negate it or say “not mine but yours”?

• Ez nem az enyém, az a tiéd. = “This is not mine; that is yours.”
• For “but rather,” use hanem:
  • Ez nem az enyém, hanem a tiéd.

Is spelling without accents acceptable (e.g., tied instead of tiéd)?

In careful writing, always include accents: tiéd, enyém. Without them, it’s considered incorrect spelling, and it can be ambiguous for learners.

Why is it az enyém but a tiéd? How do I choose a vs az?

Hungarian uses az before vowel sounds and a before consonant sounds:

• az enyém (starts with a vowel)
• a tiéd (starts with a consonant) That’s why you see sequences like az a tiéd (“that [is] the yours”): the first az = “that,” the second a = the article.