Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ma korábban ebédelünk a barátnőmmel. - Today we are having lunch earlier with my girlfriend.

Ma = today (time-topic at the start)
korábban = earlier (comparative of korán “early”)
ebédel-ünk = have.lunch-1PL.INDEF (from noun ebéd “lunch” + verb-former -el
- 1st person plural ending -ünk)
a = the (definite article, commonly used with possessed nouns)
barátnő-m-mel = girlfriend-my-with (noun barátnő “girlfriend” + 1SG possessive -m → barátnőm “my girlfriend” + instrumental/comitative -val/-vel → assimilation gives -mmel)

Why is present tense (ebédelünk) used if this is a plan for later today?

Hungarian often uses the present for near-future plans when a time adverb clarifies the timing (here, Ma). It’s natural and common. You can also use a future periphrasis:

Ma korábban fogunk ebédelni (a barátnőmmel). The meaning is the same; the fog future can sound a bit more explicit or formal, but in everyday speech the simple present is preferred.

Where is the “we” in the sentence?

It’s encoded in the verb ending -ünk of ebédelünk. Hungarian doesn’t need a subject pronoun unless you want emphasis. Adding Mi (“we”) would stress the subject:

Mi ma korábban ebédelünk (a barátnőmmel). = We, as opposed to others, are the ones eating earlier.

Why is it barátnőmmel and not something like barátnőmvel or barátnőmval?

The comitative/instrumental suffix is -val/-vel, chosen by vowel harmony (here the front-vowel variant -vel fits). With most consonant-final words, the internal v assimilates: the v drops and the preceding consonant doubles. Since barátnőm ends in -m, you get barátnőm + vel → barátnőmmel.

Do I need the article a before a possessed noun here?

Yes, Hungarian typically uses the definite article with possessed nouns, even in oblique cases: a barátnőmmel is the default. Dropping the article (barátnőmmel) can occur in very informal or telegraphic styles, but the standard, safest form is with the article.

Why is korábban placed right before the verb?

Hungarian puts the focus element immediately before the finite verb. Here, korábban is in focus, emphasizing the “earlier than usual” idea:

Topic(s): Ma (and optionally other non-focused info)
Focus: korábban
Verb: ebédelünk
Post-verbal: a barátnőmmel You can also have another topic before the focus:
Ma a barátnőmmel korábban ebédelünk. (still focusing “earlier”)

Can I move a barátnőmmel earlier in the sentence?

Yes, as a topic it can precede the focus:

Ma a barátnőmmel korábban ebédelünk. But if you move material between korábban and the finite verb, you lose the clear focus on “earlier.” Keep the focused item immediately before the verb.

What’s the difference between korábban, hamarabb, and előbb?

korábban = earlier (comparative of “early,” often about clock time or schedule)
hamarabb = sooner (comparative of “soon,” often about speed or promptness)
előbb = earlier/first/before (sequence-related, also common in speech) In this sentence, korábban is ideal. Hamarabb would also be idiomatic: Ma hamarabb ebédelünk. Előbb is possible too: Ma előbb ebédelünk, but it can lean more to “first/sooner” in a sequence.

Why use the one-word verb ebédelünk instead of something like “eat lunch”?

Hungarian has denominal verbs for meals:

reggelizni (to have breakfast)
ebédelni (to have lunch)
vacsorázni (to have dinner) They’re the most idiomatic choice. You can say Ma korábban esszük az ebédet (“we eat the lunch earlier”), which is grammatical (note the definite verb esszük with az ebédet), but ebédelünk sounds more natural.

What about perfective/aspect: can I say megebédelünk?

Yes, the prefix meg- can mark a completed event:

Ma korábban megebédelünk. = We’ll get lunch done earlier today. It highlights completion rather than the ongoing activity. With planning statements, the simple ebédelünk is more neutral.

How would I say “together with my girlfriend” explicitly?

Add együtt:

Ma korábban a barátnőmmel együtt ebédelünk. Without együtt, -val/-vel already means “with,” but együtt makes the “togetherness” explicit.

Does barátnőm always mean “girlfriend” (romantic), or can it be “female friend”?

In everyday Hungarian, barátnőm most often implies “my girlfriend” (romantic). For a non-romantic female friend, people usually clarify:

egy barátnőmmel (one of my female friends; the indefiniteness helps)
egy lány ismerősömmel (a female acquaintance) For “girlfriend” you may also hear a párom (my partner) or colloquial a csajom.

Could I use the explicit future with fog here, and where does korábban go?

Yes:

Ma korábban fogunk ebédelni a barátnőmmel. The focused item still goes right before the finite verb—here, fogunk—not before the infinitive ebédelni.

If I want to say “earlier than usual,” how do I add “than”?

Use mint:

Ma korábban ebédelünk, mint szoktunk. = We’re having lunch earlier today than we usually do.
Ma korábban ebédelünk, mint tegnap. = …than yesterday.

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Stress is always on the first syllable of each word: MA ko-RÁB-ban E-bé-de-lünk a BA-rát-nőm-mel.
Long vowels: á, é, ő are held longer.
Double consonants are long: bb in korábban, mm in barátnőmmel.
In barátnőmmel, the -mm- comes from the assimilation of -vel after barátnőm.