Ha esik az eső, esernyőt viszek, és a sapkát inkább otthon hagyom.

Ha esik az eső is the normal idiomatic way to say if it rains.

A few useful points:

• esik literally means falls
• az eső means the rain

So the structure is literally something like if the rain is falling.

Why not the other versions?

• Ha eső esik is grammatically possible, but it sounds less natural in ordinary speech.
• Ha esik can also work, especially when it is already obvious that you mean rain/weather. It is shorter, but Ha esik az eső is very common and explicit.

This kind of weather expression is normal in Hungarian:

• esik az eső = it is raining
• fúj a szél = the wind is blowing
• süt a nap = the sun is shining

So even though English uses it, Hungarian often uses the actual weather noun.

Ha means if.

Hungarian very often uses the present tense for situations that are future or general, especially in if-clauses.

So:

• Ha esik az eső, esernyőt viszek. = If it rains, I’ll take an umbrella. or = If it’s raining, I take an umbrella.

The exact English translation depends on context, but Hungarian does not need a separate future tense here.

This sentence can sound:

• habitual/general: whenever it rains, I take an umbrella
• future: if it rains, I’ll take an umbrella

Hungarian lets context do that work.

Because esernyőt is in the accusative case, which marks the direct object.

• esernyő = umbrella
• esernyőt = umbrella (as the thing being taken)

The ending -t is the basic accusative marker in Hungarian.

Here the object of viszek is esernyőt, so it needs that object marking.

Compare:

• Esernyő van itt. = There is an umbrella here.
• Esernyőt viszek. = I’m taking an umbrella.

Because esernyőt is indefinite here: an umbrella, not the umbrella.

So:

• esernyőt viszek = I’m taking an umbrella
• az esernyőt viszem = I’m taking the umbrella

Hungarian often leaves off the article when the object is indefinite in this kind of sentence.

This also affects the verb form, which leads to another important point: Hungarian has indefinite and definite verb conjugation.

Because Hungarian verbs change depending on whether the object is indefinite or definite.

1. viszek

This is the indefinite form of vinni because the object is esernyőt = an umbrella.

• esernyőt viszek = I take an umbrella

2. hagyom

This is the definite form of hagyni because the object is a sapkát = the hat/cap.

• a sapkát ... hagyom = I leave the hat/cap

This is one of the biggest grammar differences from English.

A very useful comparison:

• viszek egy könyvet = I’m taking a book → indefinite verb form
• viszem a könyvet = I’m taking the book → definite verb form

So in your sentence:

• esernyőt viszek → indefinite object → viszek
• a sapkát hagyom → definite object → hagyom

It most basically means take/carry.

The verb is vinni, which is usually used when something is moving away from the speaker’s reference point.

So in many situations:

• viszek = I take / I carry
• hozok = I bring

In this sentence, esernyőt viszek is natural because the idea is I take an umbrella with me.

English sometimes switches between take and bring depending on viewpoint, but Hungarian keeps a clearer distinction between:

• vinni = take
• hozni = bring

a sapkát is:

• a = the
• sapka = cap / hat
• sapkát = the cap/hat (direct object form)

So this is a definite, specific item.

That means the speaker is not talking about hats in general, but about a particular hat/cap that is understood from the context.

That is why the sentence does not say:

• sapkát ... hagyok = I leave a hat

  Instead it says:

• a sapkát ... hagyom = I leave the hat

Also note the accusative ending again:

• sapka → sapkát

Inkább means rather, instead, or preferably, depending on context.

In this sentence it gives the idea:

• I’d rather leave the hat at home
• I prefer to leave the hat at home

So the second part is not just a plain fact; it adds a sense of preference or choice.

Compare:

• A sapkát otthon hagyom. = I leave the hat at home.
• A sapkát inkább otthon hagyom. = I’d rather leave the hat at home.

So inkább softens and nuances the statement.

Otthon is an adverb meaning at home / home.

It already has the meaning of location built into it, so it does not need another case ending here.

So:

• otthon = at home
• otthon hagyom = I leave it at home

This is very common in Hungarian. Some place words work like ready-made adverbs:

• itt = here
• ott = there
• otthon = at home
• kint = outside
• bent = inside

So otthon hagyom is completely natural.

Hungarian word order is flexible, but changing it often changes emphasis, focus, or style.

The given sentence is natural as it stands:

• Ha esik az eső, esernyőt viszek, és a sapkát inkább otthon hagyom.

But other orders are also possible, for example:

• Ha esik az eső, viszek esernyőt...
• Ha esik az eső, inkább otthon hagyom a sapkát.
• A sapkát inkább otthon hagyom.

These versions are not all identical in feeling. Hungarian uses word order to highlight different parts of the message.

A simple way to think about it:

• same basic meaning can stay
• emphasis can shift

So learners should not assume Hungarian word order works like English word order.

Because Hungarian verb endings usually show the subject clearly, so subject pronouns are often omitted.

Here:

• viszek = I take
• hagyom = I leave

The I is already built into the verb form, so adding én is usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Én viszek esernyőt. = I’m the one taking an umbrella.
• Viszek esernyőt. = I take an umbrella.

So the version without én is the normal unmarked one.