Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ma üzenetet kapok a barátomtól. - Today I receive a message from my friend.

Hungarian normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person/number. kapok ends in -ok, which marks 1st person singular (I). You can add Én for emphasis or contrast: Én ma üzenetet kapok a barátomtól (I, not someone else, am getting a message today).

Why is it kapok and not kapom?

Hungarian has two verb conjugations:

Indefinite (used here: kapok) when the direct object is indefinite (no “the,” no specific reference), e.g., üzenetet “a message.”
Definite (kapom) when the object is specific/definite, e.g., az üzenetet “the message” or ezt “this.”

So:

Ma üzenetet kapok… = Today I get a message (unspecified).
Ma (meg)kapom az üzenetet… = Today I (will) get the message (the specific one).

Why does üzenetet end with -t and have that extra vowel?

The -t is the accusative ending (marks the direct object). With many consonant-final stems, Hungarian inserts a linking vowel to make pronunciation easier. üzenet + -t → üzenetet (linking vowel -e- due to front-vowel harmony). This is normal: kenyér → kenyeret, könyv → könyvet.

Do I need to say egy üzenetet (“a message”)?

You can, but you don’t have to.

üzenetet kapok = I get (some) message(s) / a message (unspecified).
egy üzenetet kapok = I get one/a single message (often a bit more specific or emphasizing “one”).

Both are grammatical; egy adds a shade of “one” or draws attention to the item.

Why is there an article a before a possessed noun: a barátomtól?

In Hungarian, possessed nouns used as sentence arguments normally take the definite article:

a barátom = my friend (lit. “the my-friend”)
with the suffix “from”: a barátomtól = from my friend.

Dropping the article (e.g., barátomtól) is possible but sounds more formal, terse, or stylistic; the safe default is to include a/az.

What does the ending -tól/-től mean?

It’s the case suffix meaning “from.” It attaches to the noun (after any possessive endings):

barát (friend) → barátom (my friend) → barátomtól (from my friend).

Why is it -tól here and not -től?

Vowel harmony. Words with back vowels (a, á, o, ó, u, ú) take -tól; words with front vowels (e, é, i, í, ö, ő, ü, ű) take -től. barátom has back vowels, so -tól is used.

Can I change the word order? What changes in meaning?

Yes—Hungarian uses word order for emphasis (focus).

Ma kapok üzenetet a barátomtól. Neutral: “Today I’ll get a message from my friend.”
Ma üzenetet kapok a barátomtól. Emphasizes that it’s a message (not, say, a call) that I’m getting.
Ma a barátomtól kapok üzenetet. Emphasizes the source (from my friend, not someone else).

The focused element typically sits immediately before the verb.

How do I emphasize “from my friend (not someone else)”?

Put that phrase in the focus slot before the verb:

Ma a barátomtól kapok üzenetet.

Why present tense in Hungarian but future in English?

Hungarian often uses the present tense for scheduled or near-future events when a time word is present:

Ma üzenetet kapok… = I’ll get a message today. You can use the future auxiliary for emphasis or clarity: Ma fogok kapni üzenetet…, but it’s not required.

How do I say it if it’s a specific message I expect to receive?

Use the definite object and (often) the perfective prefix meg-:

Ma megkapom az üzenetet a barátomtól. Here megkapom (definite) + az üzenetet (the message) signals a specific, completed event.

How do I say “from my friends” (plural)?

Plural possessed form + -tól:

a barátaimtól = from my friends. Example: Ma üzenetet kapok a barátaimtól.

How do I say “messages” (plural object)?

Plural accusative:

üzeneteket = messages (as direct object). Example: Ma üzeneteket kapok a barátomtól.

Can I omit the article before the possessed noun?

Yes, but it’s less neutral and can sound formal or terse: Ma üzenetet kapok barátomtól. In everyday speech and writing, prefer a/az: Ma üzenetet kapok a barátomtól.

Does barátom mean “friend” or “boyfriend”?

Context decides. barát = male friend; barátom = my (male) friend, but it can also mean “my boyfriend” in everyday speech. For clarity:

“my boyfriend” often: a barátom, a párom (my partner), or colloquially a fiúm.
“my girlfriend”: a barátnőm.
“my (female) friend”: also a barátnőm—context disambiguates “friend” vs “girlfriend.”

How do I pronounce the tricky vowels and where is stress?

ü like German ü/French u (rounded front vowel).
Long vowels á, ó are longer: á like a long “a” in “father”; ó like a long “o.”
Word stress is always on the first syllable: MA ü-ze-ne-tet KA-pok a ba-RÁ-tom-tól.
Roughly: [ˈmɒ ˈyzɛnɛtɛt ˈkɒpok ɒ bɒˈraːtomtoːl].

How do I negate this sentence?

Place nem before the verb:

Ma nem kapok üzenetet a barátomtól. = Today I’m not getting a message from my friend. With a definite, perfective version, the prefix splits: Ma nem kapom meg az üzenetet.

How do I make a yes–no question?

Use rising intonation; no “do”-support:

Ma kapok üzenetet a barátomtól? You can also front different elements for emphasis, but the question is signaled by intonation.