A bankhoz egyenesen megyek, majd balra fordulok a sarkon.

I go straight to the bank, then turn left at the corner.

Breakdown of A bankhoz egyenesen megyek, majd balra fordulok a sarkon.

• én: I
• -on: on
• majd: then
• sarok: the corner
• menni: to go
• -hoz: to
• bank: the bank
• egyenesen: straight
• balra: left
• fordulni: to turn

Questions & Answers about A bankhoz egyenesen megyek, majd balra fordulok a sarkon.

Why is it a bankhoz and not a bankba?

-hoz/-hez/-höz means to/towards something, usually focusing on reaching it as a destination.

So a bankhoz megyek = I’m going to the bank / I walk to the bank.

By contrast, -ba/-be means into:

• A bankba megyek = I’m going into the bank

In everyday English, both can translate as to the bank, but in Hungarian the distinction is clearer:

• bankhoz = to the bank as a place/destination
• bankba = into the bank building

In directions, bankhoz is very natural.

Why is there an a before bankhoz?

Hungarian keeps the definite article a/az even when the noun has a case ending.

So:

• a bank = the bank
• a bankhoz = to the bank

The case ending attaches to the noun, not to the article.

This is very common in Hungarian:

• a házban = in the house
• a boltba = into the shop
• a sarkon = at the corner

What exactly does egyenesen mean here?

egyenesen means straight, straight ahead, or directly.

In this sentence, it tells you how the speaker is going:

• A bankhoz egyenesen megyek = I go straight to the bank / I walk straight ahead to the bank

It is an adverb, so it describes the verb megyek (I go).

Why is it megyek? What form is that?

Megyek is the 1st person singular form of menni (to go).

So:

• megyek = I go / I’m going

Hungarian verbs usually show the subject in the ending, so you do not need the pronoun én (I).

That is why Hungarian says simply:

• megyek = I go

rather than usually saying én megyek.

Why is én missing if the sentence means I go and I turn?

Because Hungarian normally drops subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb endings already tell you who the subject is:

• megyek = I go
• fordulok = I turn

You would add én only for emphasis or contrast, for example:

• Én megyek a bankhoz, nem te.
  I’m going to the bank, not you.

So in the original sentence, leaving out én is completely normal.

What does majd mean here?

Majd here means then, after that, or next.

It connects the two actions in sequence:

1. A bankhoz egyenesen megyek = I go straight to the bank
2. majd balra fordulok a sarkon = then I turn left at the corner

So majd signals what happens next.

Why is it balra and not just bal?

Balra means to the left or leftward, which is what you need after a verb of motion like fordulok (I turn).

• bal = left
• balra = to the left

So:

• balra fordulok = I turn left

This -ra/-re ending often shows direction toward something.

Compare:

• jobbra = to the right
• előre = forward
• hátra = backward

Why is it fordulok and not another form like fordítok?

Because fordul means to turn oneself / to turn around, while fordít is usually to turn something or to translate.

So:

• fordulok = I turn
• fordítok = I turn something / I translate

In this sentence, the speaker is changing direction personally, so fordulok is the correct verb.

What does a sarkon literally mean?

A sarkon literally means on the corner, but in natural English it is usually translated as at the corner.

The noun is:

• sarok = corner

And here it has the ending -on, which is one version of the superessive case (on something):

• sarok
• sarkon = on the corner / at the corner

So:

• balra fordulok a sarkon = I turn left at the corner

This is a normal Hungarian way to express where the turn happens.

Why does sarok become sarkon and not sarokon?

Because when Hungarian adds endings, the stem of a noun sometimes changes slightly.

Here:

• base form: sarok
• with -on: sarkon

The o in the middle drops. This kind of stem change is common in Hungarian and must often be learned with the noun.

Other nouns also change when endings are added, though not always in the same way.

So a sarkon is simply the correct inflected form of a sarok.

Is the word order fixed in this sentence?

Not completely. Hungarian word order is flexible, but different orders change emphasis.

The given sentence is very natural:

• A bankhoz egyenesen megyek, majd balra fordulok a sarkon.

It presents the route in a neutral, clear way.

You could change the order for emphasis, for example:

• Egyenesen megyek a bankhoz...
  puts more focus on going straight
• A sarkon balra fordulok.
  puts more focus on where the turn happens

So the original word order is not the only possible one, but it is a very normal one.

Why is the ending -hoz used here and not -hez or -höz?

Hungarian chooses between -hoz, -hez, and -höz by vowel harmony.

The word bank has a back vowel (a), so it takes the back-vowel form:

• bankhoz

Compare:

• kerthez = to the garden
• székhez = to the chair
• tükörhöz = to the mirror

So bankhoz is the correct harmonized form.

Can this sentence also mean I’m walking straight to the bank, then I turn left at the corner?

Yes. Hungarian present tense often covers both a simple present and a present continuous meaning, depending on context.

So this sentence can be understood as:

• I go straight to the bank, then I turn left at the corner
• I’m going straight to the bank, then I’m turning left at the corner

In route descriptions, English often uses the simple present, so that is usually the most natural translation.