A piros kabát szép, de a kék kabát olcsóbb.

In Hungarian, a and az are the definite articles, so they mean the.

• a is used before words beginning with a consonant: a piros kabát
• az is used before words beginning with a vowel: az alma

So a piros kabát = the red coat, not a red coat.

Hungarian does have an indefinite article too: egy, which means a/an.

Because both noun phrases are definite:

• a piros kabát = the red coat
• a kék kabát = the blue coat

Hungarian normally repeats the article when it introduces a new noun phrase, even if the structure is parallel. This is very natural in a contrast like this sentence.

Yes, Hungarian can often omit the noun if it is clear from context:

• A piros szép, de a kék olcsóbb.

This would still mean The red one is nice/beautiful, but the blue one is cheaper.

However, repeating kabát makes the sentence clearer and more explicit, especially for learners or when the speaker wants to keep the contrast very clear:

• A piros kabát szép, de a kék kabát olcsóbb.

Both are natural.

In Hungarian, the verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense, third person when linking a subject to a noun, adjective, or similar expression.

So:

• A kabát szép. = The coat is beautiful.
• literally: The coat beautiful.

This omission happens in sentences like this one:

• A piros kabát szép
• a kék kabát olcsóbb

But the verb appears in other persons:

• Én szép vagyok. = I am beautiful.
• Te szép vagy. = You are beautiful.

And it also appears in the past or future.

Hungarian adjectives generally do not agree with the noun in gender, number, or case the way they do in many European languages.

So:

• piros kabát = red coat
• kék kabát = blue coat

The adjective stays the same regardless of the noun:

• piros kabát
• piros cipő
• piros ház

This is easier than in languages with adjective agreement.

Olcsóbb is the comparative form of olcsó (cheap).

• olcsó = cheap
• olcsóbb = cheaper

The ending -bb is the normal comparative marker in Hungarian.

Other examples:

• nagy = big

• nagyobb = bigger

• szép = beautiful
• szebb = more beautiful / prettier

So a kék kabát olcsóbb means the blue coat is cheaper.

Because Hungarian, like English, can use a comparative without stating the full comparison if it is obvious from context.

• A kék kabát olcsóbb. = The blue coat is cheaper.

In this sentence, the comparison is understood: the blue coat is cheaper than the red one.

If you want to say it explicitly, Hungarian usually uses mint for than:

• A kék kabát olcsóbb, mint a piros kabát.
• The blue coat is cheaper than the red coat.

Szép has a broad meaning. Depending on context, it can mean:

• beautiful
• pretty
• nice
• attractive

With objects like clothing, nice or beautiful both work well. So in this sentence, A piros kabát szép could be understood as:

• The red coat is beautiful
• The red coat is nice

The best English choice depends on the translation style and context.

De means but.

It connects two contrasting parts:

• A piros kabát szép, de a kék kabát olcsóbb.
• The red coat is nice, but the blue coat is cheaper.

Its position is very similar to English but: it comes between the two clauses.

The sentence as given is neutral and very natural:

• A piros kabát szép, de a kék kabát olcsóbb.

Hungarian word order is more flexible than English, but changes in word order often affect focus or emphasis.

For example, you could emphasize a different element in another context, but the basic learner-friendly order here is:

article + adjective + noun + predicate

So this sentence is a good standard model.

Everything here is singular:

• kabát = coat
• a piros kabát = the red coat
• a kék kabát = the blue coat

If you wanted the plural, kabát would become kabátok:

• A piros kabátok szépek, de a kék kabátok olcsóbbak.
• The red coats are beautiful, but the blue coats are cheaper.

Notice that in the plural, the predicate adjectives also take plural marking:

• szép → szépek
• olcsóbb → olcsóbbak

That is different from the attributive adjectives before the noun, which still do not agree:

• piros kabátok
• kék kabátok

A rough pronunciation guide:

• A = short aw
• piros ≈ pee-rosh
• kabát ≈ kaw-baat
• szép ≈ sape with a long é
• de ≈ deh
• kék ≈ kake with a long é
• olcsóbb ≈ ol-chohbb

A rough full version:

aw pee-rosh kaw-baat sape, deh aw kake kaw-baat ol-chohbb

A few useful sound notes:

• sz is pronounced like English s
• s alone is pronounced like English sh
• cs is pronounced like English ch
• á is a long vowel
• é is also a long vowel

So:

• szép begins with s, not sh
• piros ends with sh
• olcsóbb contains cs = ch