Mielőtt elindulok, a tükör előtt fésülködöm.

Mielőtt means before when it introduces a whole clause, like before I leave or before I set off.

So:

• Mielőtt elindulok = Before I leave / before I set off

A useful distinction is:

• mielőtt
  • clause = before
    • full sentence idea
• előtt
  • noun = before / in front of

That is why the sentence has both:

• Mielőtt elindulok = before I leave
• a tükör előtt = in front of the mirror

Hungarian normally uses a comma to separate a subordinate clause from the main clause.

Here:

• Mielőtt elindulok = subordinate clause
• a tükör előtt fésülködöm = main clause

So the comma works much like in English:

• Before I leave, I comb my hair in front of the mirror.

Even if English sometimes feels more flexible with commas, Hungarian is more regular about using them in this kind of structure.

Elindulok comes from the verb elindul.

Breakdown:

• indul = to start, to set off, to depart
• el- = a verbal prefix that often gives the sense of away, off, or the beginning of movement
• -ok = I (first person singular)

So elindulok means:

• I leave
• I set off
• I start out

Depending on context, any of those can fit.

Hungarian often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

Here:

• elindulok = I leave / I set off
• fésülködöm = I comb my hair / I groom myself

The endings tell you it is I, so én is not necessary.

You could add én for emphasis, but normally you would not:

• Mielőtt elindulok... = normal
• Mielőtt én elindulok... = emphatic, like before I leave...

A tükör előtt literally means before the mirror, but in natural English here it is in front of the mirror.

Breakdown:

• a = the
• tükör = mirror
• előtt = before / in front of

Hungarian uses many postpositions, which work like English prepositions except they come after the noun.

So:

• English: in front of the mirror
• Hungarian: the mirror in front of

That is why előtt comes after tükör.

Because Hungarian usually uses the definite article when talking about a specific, identifiable thing.

• a tükör = the mirror

In this context, it means a particular mirror, presumably the one the speaker uses. That is why the mirror is more natural than a mirror.

Hungarian article choice does not always match English perfectly, but here it lines up well.

Fésülködöm means I comb my hair or more literally I comb myself / I groom myself.

It comes from:

• fésül = to comb
• fésülködik = to comb one’s hair, to groom oneself
• fésülködöm = I comb my hair / I groom myself

Hungarian often uses special verb forms for actions done to oneself, where English may use:

• a reflexive idea: I wash myself
• or a normal expression with a body part: I comb my hair

If you said fésülöm, that would usually need an object:

• fésülöm a hajam = I comb my hair
• fésülöm a kutyát = I comb the dog

So fésülködöm is the natural intransitive/reflexive-style verb for personal grooming.

The ending -öm marks first person singular in this verb form, so it means I.

Compare:

• fésülködöm = I comb my hair
• fésülködsz = you comb your hair
• fésülködik = he/she combs his/her hair

The vowel in the ending follows vowel harmony patterns, which is why you get -öm here rather than something like -ok.

You do not need to memorize all the theory at once; the important point is that -öm here tells you the subject is I.

Both are possible, but they put the focus in slightly different places.

• a tükör előtt fésülködöm puts a bit more attention on where the action happens: in front of the mirror
• fésülködöm a tükör előtt is also natural and may sound a bit more neutral in some contexts

Hungarian word order is flexible and often reflects focus, topic, or what the speaker wants to highlight.

In this sentence, the location comes before the verb quite naturally, especially after the introductory clause.

It can be understood either way, depending on context.

Because both verbs are in the present tense, the sentence can mean:

• Before I leave, I comb my hair in front of the mirror.
  This can describe a routine or habit.
• It can also describe what happens in a particular situation, especially in narrative or conversational context.

Hungarian present tense often covers meanings that English expresses with:

• simple present: I leave
• habitual present: I usually leave
• near-future sense in context: I’m about to leave

So context decides whether it is habitual or about one occasion.

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly.

• fésülködöm = I comb my hair / I am combing my hair
• megfésülködöm = I comb my hair completely / I get myself combed / I finish combing my hair

The prefix meg- often gives a sense of completion or a single completed action.

So:

• Mielőtt elindulok, a tükör előtt fésülködöm.
  More neutral, describing the action.
• Mielőtt elindulok, a tükör előtt megfésülködöm.
  Emphasizes that I get my hair combed before leaving.

Both are possible, but the version without meg- is a very natural general statement.

A fairly literal version would be:

• Before I set off, I comb myself in front of the mirror.

But that is not the most natural English. A more idiomatic translation is:

• Before I leave, I comb my hair in front of the mirror.

This is a good example of how Hungarian and English package actions differently:

• Hungarian uses fésülködöm
• English usually says comb my hair

So the natural translation should sound like normal English, not necessarily preserve each word one-for-one.