Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ma már nem szomorú, mert ír neki a barátja. - Today he is not sad anymore because his friend writes to him.

Ma már = “as of today (already),” contrasting today with earlier days. It implies a change that has taken effect by today.
Már alone = “already” or, in már nem, “no longer/anymore,” without specifying the time frame.
Most már = “now already/by now,” focusing on the present moment rather than the day as a whole.

So Ma már nem szomorú means “He/She is no longer sad today,” suggesting that earlier (e.g., yesterday) they were sad.

Why is there no van after szomorú? Can I say nincs szomorú?

In 3rd person present tense, Hungarian drops the copula van with predicate adjectives: (Ő) szomorú = “He/She is sad.” The negative is formed with nem: (Ő) nem szomorú. Using nincs with a plain adjective like szomorú is ungrammatical in standard Hungarian. Use nincs for existential/locative or certain set-state expressions: Nincs itthon (“He/She isn’t at home”), Nincs kész (“It isn’t ready”).

Can I include the subject pronoun and say Ő ma már nem szomorú?

Yes. Ő is optional. Adding it can add a slight emphasis or contrast (“He/She (as opposed to someone else) isn’t sad anymore today”).

Why is there a comma before mert?

Hungarian punctuation normally places a comma before subordinate clauses introduced by mert (“because”): …, mert …. The comma is standard and expected in writing.

Why is it mert ír neki a barátja and not mert a barátja ír neki? Are both correct?

Both are correct.

mert a barátja ír neki is the neutral, typical word order (Topic–Comment).
mert ír neki a barátja fronts the verb and often feels a bit more dynamic or action-focused (“…because there is writing going on — by his/her friend”). The difference is subtle; context and intonation determine the nuance.

What does neki mean here, and why can’t I say ír őt?

Neki is the 3rd person dative pronoun (“to him/her”). The verb ír (“write”) takes a dative for the recipient: ír valakinek (“write to someone”). You cannot say ír őt because őt is accusative (direct object), which doesn’t fit the verb’s “to someone” pattern.

Where can neki go? Is the position flexible?

Yes, but word order affects emphasis:

Neutral: A barátja ír neki.
Emphasizing the recipient (to him/her, not someone else): Neki ír a barátja.
Emphasizing the action/event: Ír neki a barátja. In the original subordinate clause: mert a barátja ír neki (neutral), mert neki ír a barátja (focus on recipient), mert ír neki a barátja (event-focused).

What exactly does a barátja mean? Is it “his friend” or “her friend”? Could it mean “boyfriend”?

A barátja = “his/her friend.” Hungarian doesn’t mark gender, so it’s ambiguous. In everyday speech, barátja can also mean “boyfriend,” while barátnője means “girlfriend.” Context disambiguates. If you need to be explicit: férfibarátja (“male friend”), fiúbarátja (colloquial “boyfriend”), barátnője (“girlfriend”).

Why do we need the article a before barátja?

Possessed nouns typically take the definite article in Hungarian when they’re specific: a barátja (“his/her friend”). Omitting the article here would be ungrammatical in standard usage: you say A barátja ír neki, not ✗Barátja ír neki.

Why is it ír and not írja? Which conjugation is this?

It’s the indefinite conjugation (ír) because there is no definite direct object. The dative neki is an indirect object and does not trigger definite conjugation. You would use írja only if there were a definite direct object: A barátja írja (azt) neki (“His/Her friend writes it to him/her”).

Does ír mean “writes” or “is writing”? Which aspect is intended?

Hungarian present covers both simple and progressive aspects. ír can mean “writes” (habitual) or “is writing” (right now). Context (e.g., adding most “now”) clarifies: mert most ír neki a barátja = “because his/her friend is writing to him/her now.”

How would I say “to his/her friend” explicitly with the noun instead of neki?

Use the dative suffix -nak/-nek on the possessed noun:

A barátjának ír. (“He/She writes to his/her friend.”) In your sentence: Ma már nem szomorú, mert a barátjának ír or …, mert a barátjának ír a barátja (the latter is repetitive; normally you wouldn’t repeat barát like that—use either the pronoun neki or the noun phrase, not both).

Can I add a direct object like “a letter” or “an email”? What changes?

Yes:

Indefinite object: levelet ír neki (“writes a letter to him/her”) → still indefinite conjugation: ír.
Definite object: megírja neki a levelet (“writes the letter to him/her”) → definite conjugation: írja/megírja. Examples in context:
…, mert a barátja levelet ír neki.
…, mert a barátja megírja neki a levelet.

What’s the difference between már nem, még nem, and még mindig?

már nem = “no longer, not anymore”: Ma már nem szomorú.
még nem = “not yet”: Még nem szomorú (“He/She isn’t sad yet”).
még mindig = “still (continuing)”: Még mindig szomorú (“He/She is still sad”).

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Stress is always on the first syllable of each word.
sz = English “s” (so szomorú starts with an “s” sound).
s (not present here) would be “sh.”
Long vowels: á, ú, í are held longer than a, u, i.
Approximate: MA már NEM SZO-mo-rú, mert ÍR NE-ki a BA-rát-ja.

Can mert be replaced by another conjunction, and would that change the feel?

Yes:

mivel = “since/as,” a bit more formal or explanatory: …, mivel a barátja ír neki.
hiszen = “after all,” appeals to shared knowledge: …, hiszen a barátja ír neki.
ugyanis = “namely/that’s because,” usually follows the main clause and is more explanatory: Ma már nem szomorú. Ugyanis a barátja ír neki.

Is Már ma nem szomorú acceptable? How does it differ from Ma már nem szomorú?

Már ma nem szomorú is possible but marked; it emphasizes “already today” (earlier than expected). Ma már nem szomorú is the common, natural way to contrast today with earlier times.