Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Nem szeretek telefonálni, inkább üzenetet küldök. - I don’t like to make phone calls, I prefer to send a message.

szeretek + infinitive = I like doing something in general
- Nem szeretek telefonálni. = I don’t like (in general) to make phone calls.
szeretem + noun/pronoun = I like / I love something or someone (as an object)
- Szeretem a kávét. = I like coffee.
- Szeretem őt. = I love him/her.

So here, telefonálni is an activity, so Hungarian uses szeretek + infinitive, not szeretem.

What form is telefonálni, and why is it used here?

Telefonálni is the infinitive of the verb telefonál (to telephone, to make a phone call).

Hungarian often uses [szeret + infinitive] for likes and dislikes about activities:

Szeretek olvasni. – I like reading.
Nem szeretek korán kelni. – I don’t like getting up early.

So:
Nem szeretek telefonálni. = I don’t like to phone / I don’t like making phone calls.

Could you also say Nem szeretem telefonálni?

No, that is ungrammatical in standard Hungarian.

With szeret
- activity, you must use the infinitive and the indefinite form of szeret:
  - Szeretek / Nem szeretek + infinitive

Szeretem needs a direct object (noun or pronoun):

Szeretem a zenét. – I like music.
Szeretem a telefonálást. – literally I like (the act of) phoning. (possible, but sounds more abstract/nominal)

So the natural choice is Nem szeretek telefonálni.

Why is the subject “I” (én) missing?

Hungarian usually leaves out personal pronouns, because the verb ending already shows the person:

szeretek = I like (1st person singular)
küldök = I send (1st person singular)

You only say én when you want to emphasize or contrast:

Én nem szeretek telefonálni. – I don’t like to phone (but maybe others do).

What exactly does inkább mean, and how does it work here?

Inkább means “rather, instead, preferably” and introduces a preferred alternative.

In this sentence:

Nem szeretek telefonálni, inkább üzenetet küldök.
= I don’t like phoning, I’d rather send a message.

Inkább usually comes before the thing you prefer:

Inkább sétálok. – I’d rather walk.
Inkább üzenetet küldök. – I’d rather send a message.

Why is there a comma before inkább?

The sentence actually has two clauses:

Nem szeretek telefonálni – I don’t like phoning
inkább üzenetet küldök – I’d rather send a message

The comma separates them, much like in English:
I don’t like phoning, I’d rather send a message.

You could also add hanem (but rather), which makes the contrast even clearer:

Nem szeretek telefonálni, hanem inkább üzenetet küldök.
= I don’t like phoning, but I’d rather send a message.

Why is it üzenetet, with a -t at the end?

The -t ending marks the accusative case (direct object) in Hungarian.

üzenet = message (basic form)
üzenetet = message as a direct object (a message)

Other examples:

könyv → könyvet – a book (object)
filmet nézek. – I’m watching a film.

So üzenetet küldök literally means I send a message (I send what? → a message).

Why is it küldök, not küldöm?

Hungarian verbs have two main conjugations: indefinite and definite.

küldök = I send (indefinite conjugation)
küldöm = I send it / I send the specific X (definite conjugation)

You use indefinite when the object is indefinite/unspecific:

Üzenetet küldök. – I (will) send a message (some message).

You use definite when the object is specific/known:

Az üzenetet küldöm. – I’m sending the message (that specific one).

In our sentence, it’s just a message in general, so küldök is correct.

Could word order be Küldök üzenetet instead of Üzenetet küldök?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but the focus changes slightly.

Üzenetet küldök. – neutral or slight emphasis on üzenetet (“a message is what I send”).
Küldök üzenetet. – more neutral / factual (“I send a message”).

In the given sentence with inkább, both can sound natural:

Nem szeretek telefonálni, inkább üzenetet küldök.
Nem szeretek telefonálni, inkább küldök üzenetet.

The first version is perhaps a bit more typical, but the meaning is essentially the same here.

Why is the English translation usually “I’d rather send a message” when the Hungarian is in simple present?

Hungarian simple present covers several meanings that English often distinguishes:

present habitual (I usually…),
generic statements (I like…),
polite preference / soft conditional (I’d rather… in context).

So:

Nem szeretek telefonálni, inkább üzenetet küldök.

literally: I don’t like to phone, rather I send a message.
natural English: I don’t like phoning, I’d rather send a message.

If you really wanted a more explicit conditional, Hungarian could say:

…inkább üzenetet küldenék. – I would rather send a message.

But in everyday speech, the simple present küldök is perfectly normal for this preference.

What’s the nuance of telefonálni here? Is it “to phone” or “to call someone”?

Telefonálni means to make a phone call / to talk on the phone in general. It does not specify whom you call:

Szeretek telefonálni. – I like talking on the phone / making phone calls.

If you want to say call someone, you more often use felhívni with an object:

Felhívlak. – I’ll call you.
Nem szeretek embereket felhívni. – I don’t like calling people.

In this sentence, telefonálni is intentionally general: I don’t like phoning (as an activity).