Az énekes új dalt énekel.

Here is the word-by-word breakdown:

• Az = the
• énekes = singer
• új = new
• dalt = song
  • object marking
• énekel = sings / is singing

So the structure is basically:

• Az énekes = the singer
• új dalt = a new song
• énekel = sings

Even though the full meaning is already known, it helps to see how the parts match up.

Hungarian has two forms of the definite article:

• a
• az

Which one you use depends on the following sound:

• a before a consonant
• az before a vowel

Since énekes begins with the vowel é, the correct article is az:

• az énekes = the singer

Compare:

• a dal = the song
• az énekes = the singer

This is similar to the English difference between a and an, although Hungarian uses this distinction only for the definite article.

Because dal is the direct object of the verb énekel.

In Hungarian, direct objects usually take the accusative ending -t. So:

• dal = song
• dalt = song as a direct object

In English, word order tells you that song is the object in The singer sings a new song. In Hungarian, the object is also often marked directly on the noun.

So:

• Az énekes dalt énekel = The singer sings a song

This is just how this noun forms the accusative.

The accusative ending is basically -t, but Hungarian nouns do not all attach it in exactly the same surface form. With dal, the result is:

• dal → dalt

You may notice that in some other words a linking vowel appears before -t, for example:

• ablak → ablakot

But with dal, no extra vowel is added.

So this is something learners gradually get used to: the accusative is always related to -t, but the exact form can vary.

Hungarian often leaves out the indefinite article egy where English would use a/an.

So:

• új dalt can mean a new song
• egy új dalt can also mean a new song, but it sounds more explicitly indefinite, often closer to one new song or a certain new song, depending on context

In many ordinary sentences, Hungarian simply does not need egy.

So this sentence is perfectly natural:

• Az énekes új dalt énekel.

And a slightly more explicitly indefinite version would be:

• Az énekes egy új dalt énekel.

This is a very important Hungarian grammar point.

Hungarian verbs have two main conjugation patterns:

• indefinite conjugation
• definite conjugation

You use the definite conjugation when the object is definite, for example the song, this song, that song, my song, etc.

You use the indefinite conjugation when there is no definite object, or the object is indefinite.

Here, the object is új dalt = a new song, which is indefinite, so the verb is in the indefinite form:

• énekel = sings

If the sentence were The singer sings the new song, Hungarian would use a definite object and usually the definite verb form:

• Az énekes az új dalt énekli.

So the difference is:

• új dalt énekel = sings a new song
• az új dalt énekli = sings the new song

Hungarian word order is more flexible than English word order, but it is not random.

This sentence has a very natural neutral structure:

• Az énekes = topic / what we are talking about
• új dalt = focus on the new song as part of the predicate
• énekel = the verb comes at the end of this neutral statement

So the sentence feels like:

• As for the singer, he is singing a new song.

Hungarian often places an indefinite object like új dalt directly before the verb in a neutral sentence.

Yes, but the emphasis would change.

For example:

• Az énekes új dalt énekel.
  Neutral: The singer is singing a new song.

• Az énekes énekel új dalt.
  Less neutral in many contexts; possible, but it may sound different in emphasis or style.

• Új dalt énekel az énekes.
  This can put more attention on new song.

Hungarian word order often reflects what is already known, what is emphasized, and what is in focus. So a different order usually means a different information structure, not just a stylistic variation.

Because they are related words.

They both come from the idea of singing:

• énekel = to sing
• énekes = singer

The ending -s is common in Hungarian words that describe a person connected with something, though learners do not need to overgeneralize it too early.

So this sentence is nice because it shows a clear word family:

• ének- relates to singing
• énekes = singer
• énekel = sings

Új means new, and it comes before the noun it describes:

• új dal = new song

In this sentence, the noun becomes accusative:

• új dal → új dalt

But the adjective új does not change.

That is normal in Hungarian: adjectives usually do not agree with the noun in the way they do in some other languages. The case ending usually appears on the noun, not on the adjective.

So:

• új dal = new song
• új dalt = new song as object

A rough pronunciation guide for English speakers:

• Az ≈ awz
• énekes ≈ AY-nay-kesh
• új ≈ a long oo followed by a y sound, roughly ooy
• dalt ≈ dahlt
• énekel ≈ AY-neh-kehl

A few useful points:

• é is a long vowel, roughly like ay in say, but purer
• ú is a long oo
• s in Hungarian is pronounced sh
• sz would be the normal English s, but there is no sz in this sentence

So énekes sounds more like AY-neh-kesh, not ee-NEK-es.

It can mean both, depending on context.

Hungarian present tense often covers both:

• sings
• is singing

So:

• Az énekes új dalt énekel.

can mean:

• The singer sings a new song.
• The singer is singing a new song.

Context tells you which is more natural.

Because Hungarian does not build the present continuous the way English does.

English uses:

• is singing

Hungarian usually just uses the simple present:

• énekel

So one Hungarian present-tense verb form can often match either English sings or is singing.

That is very normal in Hungarian, and learners should not expect a one-to-one match with English tense forms.

It is singular.

• énekes = singer
• énekesek = singers

So Az énekes clearly means the singer, not the singers.

Hungarian marks plural directly on the noun when needed.

You would need to make the object definite, and then the verb would usually switch to the definite conjugation:

• Az énekes az új dalt énekli.

Changes:

• új dalt → az új dalt = the new song
• énekel → énekli because the object is now definite

This is a very common Hungarian pattern, and this sentence is a good example of how object definiteness affects the verb.