Este a szoba sötét, mert az ablak zárva van.

In the evening the room is dark because the window is closed.

Breakdown of Este a szoba sötét, mert az ablak zárva van.

• lenni: to be
• este: the evening
• szoba: the room
• mert: because
• sötét: dark
• ablak: the window
• zárva: closed

Questions & Answers about Este a szoba sötét, mert az ablak zárva van.

Why is there no separate word for “is” in Este a szoba sötét?

In Hungarian, the verb lenni (to be) is usually left out in the present tense, 3rd person, when it links a subject to:

• a noun (e.g. Ő orvos – He is a doctor), or
• an adjective (e.g. A szoba sötét – The room is dark).

So instead of Este a szoba van sötét, the correct normal sentence is simply:

• Este a szoba sötét. – In the evening the room is dark.

However, you must use a form of lenni in the present tense if:

• you talk about existence / location:
  
  • A szobában egy ágy van. – There is a bed in the room.
• the “predicate” is a participle or adverb, like zárva or otthon:
  
  • Az ablak zárva van. – The window is closed.
  • Péter otthon van. – Peter is at home.

Why is it a szoba but az ablak?

Hungarian has one definite article that appears in two forms:

• a before a consonant sound
• az before a vowel sound

So you get:

• a szoba – sz is a consonant
• az ablak – a is a vowel at the start of ablak

This is like “a” vs “an” in English, but:

• Hungarian always uses a/az for definite nouns (when you mean the room, the window).
• It’s used more frequently than English the. For example:
  
  • Szeretem a teát. – literally I like the tea = I like tea.

What exactly is este here? Why not az este or este van?

In this sentence:

• Este functions as an adverbial of time: in the evening.

Compare:

• Este a szoba sötét. – In the evening the room is dark.
• Reggel a szoba világos. – In the morning the room is bright.

You don’t need van here; este just sets the time, like “tonight” or “in the evenings” in English.

You might see az este when este is treated more clearly as a noun (“the evening” as a thing):

• Az este hideg volt. – The evening was cold.

But when it’s just a time expression, bare este is perfectly natural.

Could I also say A szoba este sötét? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

• Este a szoba sötét.
• A szoba este sötét.

Both are grammatically correct and both can mean: The room is dark in the evening.

The difference is in word order and emphasis:

• Este a szoba sötét. – Slight focus on when:
  As for the evening, the room is dark (then).

• A szoba este sötét. – Slight focus on the room and its property in the evening:
  As for the room, it is (in particular) dark in the evening.

In everyday speech, the difference is subtle. Both are fine neutral sentences in many contexts.

How does mert work? Does it change word order like because sometimes does in English?

mert means “because” and it does not change the word order of the clause that follows it. The Hungarian clause after mert is structured like a normal statement.

In the example:

• … mert az ablak zárva van. – … because the window is closed.

Word order is just like a regular independent sentence:

• Az ablak zárva van. – The window is closed.

When you add mert, it simply turns that sentence into a reason clause. No inversion, no special rearrangement is required.

Punctuation: in writing, you normally put a comma before mert, just like in the example:

Este a szoba sötét, mert az ablak zárva van.

Why do we say zárva van instead of just zárva or zárt?

zárva van is a very common structure in Hungarian:

• zárva – a participle-like form meaning closed / in a closed state
• van – the verb to be, here in 3rd person singular present

Together: zárva van ≈ is in a closed state → is closed.

Why not just zárva?
Because with participles and many adverbial predicates, you must include van in the present tense:

• Az ajtó nyitva van. – The door is open. (not Az ajtó nyitva)
• Az ablak zárva van. – The window is closed.
• A bolt hétfőn zárva van. – The shop is closed on Monday.

Why not zárt?
zárt is an adjective (closed, enclosed), but:

• Az ablak zárt. is grammatically possible, but it sounds more like a permanent characteristic:
  The window is (of the “closed type” / permanently shut / sealed).

For a normal window that just happens to be closed now, the natural expression is zárva van.

What exactly does zárva mean and how is it related to zár?

• zár is the verb “to close, to shut, to lock”.
• zárva is its state/result participle: literally having been closed, in a closed state.

You use zárva with lenni to describe the resulting state:

• Az ablak zárva van. – The window is closed (right now).
• A bolt zárva van. – The shop is closed.

Compare with action:

• Bezárom az ablakot. – I close the window. (action)
• Az ablak be van zárva. – The window is (shut/locked) closed. (resulting state)

When do we use van and when do we drop it in Hungarian?

In the present tense, 3rd person:

1. Drop van / vannak when the predicate is:

   • a noun:
     
     • Péter tanár. – Peter is a teacher.
   • an adjective:
     
     • A szoba sötét. – The room is dark.

2. Keep van / vannak when the predicate is:

   • about existence / location:
     
     • A szobában egy ágy van. – There is a bed in the room.
   • a participle or many adverbs (state):
     
     • Az ablak zárva van. – The window is closed.
     • A gyerekek bent vannak. – The children are inside.

In your sentence:

• A szoba sötét → adjective → no van
• Az ablak zárva van → participle → needs van

Could we say mert az ablak be van zárva? If yes, what’s the difference?

Yes, you can also say:

• Este a szoba sötét, mert az ablak be van zárva.

Both:

• zárva van
• be van zárva

are correct, but:

• zárva van – neutral “is closed”
• be van zárva – adds the particle be- (inwards, shut in), often implying:
  • more thoroughly shut, possibly locked,
  • or with more emphasis on the result of the closing action.

In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but be van zárva can feel stronger or slightly more emphatic.

Why is there a comma before mert in the sentence?

In standard Hungarian punctuation, you normally put a comma before:

• mert (because)
• hogy (that)
• ha (if), etc.,

when they introduce a subordinate clause.

So:

• Este a szoba sötét, mert az ablak zárva van.
  
  • Main clause: Este a szoba sötét
  • Reason clause: mert az ablak zárva van

Even if Hungarian word order is simpler than English after mert, the rule of “comma before mert” still generally applies in writing.

If the room and window were plural, how would the sentence change?

You would pluralize both nouns and adjust the verb van to vannak where needed:

• Este a szobák sötétek, mert az ablakok zárva vannak.

Breakdown:

• a szobák – the rooms
• sötétek – plural of sötét
• az ablakok – the windows
• zárva vannak – vannak is the plural of van

Note that sötétek has an explicit plural ending, while zárva itself does not change; only van → vannak shows the plural.

How would I say “In the evenings the room is dark” instead of “In the evening”?

Use esténként to express “in the evenings / every evening / on evenings (in general)”:

• Esténként a szoba sötét, mert az ablak zárva van.
  – In the evenings the room is dark because the window is closed.

este = this (or a given) evening, generally as a simple time adverb
esténként = on evenings in general, repeatedly / habitually.