Hol ebédelsz ma?

Where are you having lunch today?

Breakdown of Hol ebédelsz ma?

• ma: today
• hol: where
• ebédelni: to have lunch

Questions & Answers about Hol ebédelsz ma?

What does the word ebédelsz mean, exactly, and how is it formed?

• It is the 2nd person singular, present tense, indefinite form of ebédel = “to have lunch.”
• Breakdown: ebéd (lunch) + verb-forming suffix -el → ebédel → add the 2sg ending -sz → ebédelsz = “you have lunch/are having lunch.”
• Present indefinite paradigm: ebédelek, ebédelsz, ebédel, ebédelünk, ebédeltek, ebédelnek.
• Infinitive: ebédelni (“to have lunch”).

Why is there no subject pronoun? Why not Te hol ebédelsz ma?

• Hungarian normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person.
• Te can be added for emphasis or contrast: Te hol ebédelsz ma? = “Where are YOU having lunch today (as opposed to others)?”

Where should I put ma (“today”)? Is Hol ebédelsz ma? the only correct order?

• Both are natural:
  • Hol ebédelsz ma? (neutral; focus on the place)
  • Ma hol ebédelsz? (brings “today” to the topic position)
• Avoid Hol ma ebédelsz? because in Hungarian the question word (hol) should stand right before the finite verb; nothing should come between them.

Why is it hol and not hova?

• hol = “at what place” (static location).
• hova = “to what place” (direction, destination).
• Eating happens at a location, so hol fits: Hol ebédelsz ma? If you mean “Where are you going to have lunch?” you’d use motion: Hova mentek ebédelni?

What case endings would typical answers use?

• You usually answer with a place word + a location case:
  • Az irodában. (in the office; -ban/-ben)
  • A menzán. (at the cafeteria; -n/-on/-en/-ön)
  • A barátomnál. (at my friend’s place; -nál/-nél)
  • Egy étteremben. (in a restaurant; -ban/-ben)
  • Otthon. (at home; adverb, no ending)

Is ebédelsz indefinite or definite conjugation, and why?

• It’s indefinite. Ebédel is intransitive here (“to have lunch”), so there is no direct object to make it definite.
• If you use eszik (“eat”) with a specific object, you’d switch to definite: Eszed az ebédet. = “You are eating the lunch.”

Could I say Hol eszel ma? or Hol eszel ma ebédet? instead?

• Hol eszel ma? = “Where are you eating today?” (generic “eat,” not specifically lunch).
• Hol eszel ma ebédet? is correct and means “Where will you eat lunch today?” but the idiomatic, compact way is with ebédel: Hol ebédelsz ma?

How do I make the sentence more polite or formal?

• Hungarian uses the formal 2nd person with 3rd person verb forms: Hol ebédel ma?
• You can add Ön for clarity: Ön hol ebédel ma?

How do I ask the same thing to more than one person?

• Informal plural: Hol ebédeltek ma?
• Formal plural (addressing Önök): Hol ebédelnek ma (Önök)?

Can I use a future form, like Hol fogsz ma ebédelni?

• Yes: Hol fogsz ma ebédelni? is correct.
• However, Hungarian often uses the present with a time adverb for near-future plans: Hol ebédelsz ma? is the most natural in everyday speech.

How do I ask about the time rather than the place?

• Ma hánykor ebédelsz? = “At what time are you having lunch today?”
• Also possible: Mikor ebédelsz ma? (more general “when”).

How do I make a yes/no question like “Are you having lunch today?”

• Ma ebédelsz? (intonation does the work).
• With the question particle -e (more formal/written): Ma ebédelsz-e?

Pronunciation tips for Hol ebédelsz ma?

• sz is like English “s.” (Hungarian s is “sh.”)
• é is a long vowel [eː] (don’t turn it into an English diphthong).
• Word stress is always on the first syllable: HOL e-bé-delsz ma.

Is Hol ma ebédelsz? really wrong?

• It’s best to avoid. In standard Hungarian, the question word (hol) must be immediately before the finite verb; ma shouldn’t separate them. Use Hol ebédelsz ma? or Ma hol ebédelsz?

What’s the past-tense equivalent?

• Hol ebédeltél tegnap? = “Where did you have lunch yesterday?”
• Past of ebédel: ebédeltem, ebédeltél, ebédelt, …

How can I add “with whom”?

• Kivel ebédelsz ma? = “With whom are you having lunch today?”
• Note the instrumental ending -val/-vel with assimilation: ki + -vel → kivel.

Is there an -ik version like with other meal verbs?

• No. It’s ebédel (not an -ik verb). Related meal verbs: reggelizik (“have breakfast”), vacsorázik (“have dinner”), but lunch is ebédel.

Do I need an article with ma?

• No article is used. Ma simply means “today.” For example: Ma hol ebédelsz? or Hol ebédelsz ma?