A barátnőm a naptárt nézi, mielőtt dönt.

In Hungarian, a / az is the definite article, like the in English.

• a barátnőm = my girlfriend / my female friend
• a naptárt = the calendar

Hungarian often uses the definite article even where English might not always emphasize it. Here, both nouns are specific, so the article is natural.

The -m is a possessive ending meaning my.

• barátnő = girlfriend / female friend
• barátnőm = my girlfriend / my female friend

So Hungarian usually expresses possession by adding an ending to the noun, rather than always using a separate word like my.

You could also say az én barátnőm, but én is usually only added for emphasis.

The -t marks the direct object.

• naptár = calendar
• naptárt = calendar as the thing being looked at

Since the sentence says she is looking at the calendar, calendar is the object of the verb, so it takes -t.

This is called the accusative ending.

Hungarian verbs have two main conjugation patterns:

• indefinite conjugation
• definite conjugation

Because the object is definite here — a naptárt = the calendar — Hungarian uses the definite verb form:

• néz = he/she looks, is looking at something non-specific
• nézi = he/she looks at it / the specific thing

So nézi matches the definite object a naptárt.

Because dönt has no stated definite object here.

The sentence simply says before deciding or before she decides. It does not say what she decides something. Since there is no definite object, the normal form is:

• dönt = she decides

If there were a definite object, the verb form could change.

Mielőtt means before when introducing a clause.

So:

• mielőtt dönt = before she decides

It connects the two actions:

1. she looks at the calendar
2. then she decides

Hungarian often uses mielőtt + verb just like English uses before + clause.

Because mielőtt dönt is a subordinate clause.

Hungarian normally separates this kind of clause with a comma:

• A barátnőm a naptárt nézi, mielőtt dönt.

This is similar to English punctuation in many before/after/when clause structures, though the exact punctuation rules are not always identical.

Yes, but it is also quite natural.

A barátnőm a naptárt nézi is a neutral, standard word order:

• A barátnőm = topic, what the sentence is about
• a naptárt = object
• nézi = verb

Hungarian word order is flexible, but it often reflects topic and focus, not just grammatical roles.

This sentence sounds like a normal statement: My girlfriend looks at the calendar before deciding.

Yes. Hungarian allows different orders, but they can change the emphasis.

For example:

• A barátnőm nézi a naptárt, mielőtt dönt.
• A naptárt nézi a barátnőm, mielőtt dönt.

These are grammatically possible, but the emphasis changes.

The original version is a very natural, straightforward way to say it.

It can mean either one.

• barátnőm can mean my girlfriend
• or my female friend

Hungarian does not always make that distinction explicit. The intended meaning usually comes from context.

So without extra context, both readings are possible.

Because Hungarian usually builds possession into the noun itself.

Instead of saying something exactly like my friend, Hungarian often says:

• barátom = my boyfriend / my male friend
• barátnőm = my girlfriend / my female friend

You can add az én for emphasis:

• az én barátnőm

But in ordinary sentences, the possessive ending alone is enough.

Hungarian uses:

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

Since naptárt starts with n, which is a consonant, the correct article is a.

Examples:

• a naptár
• az asztal

It is in the present tense, but like English, it can describe either:

• something happening now, depending on context
• a usual habit or repeated behavior

So it could mean:

• she is looking at the calendar before deciding
• she usually looks at the calendar before deciding

Hungarian present tense is often flexible in this way, and context tells you which reading is intended.