várta

Várta is a Hungarian verb form that functions as the past definite (or perfect) form of the verb várni, meaning to wait or to expect. It corresponds to “he waited” or “she waited for (someone or something)” in English, depending on the object in the sentence. The form is used when the object of waiting is definite and known to the speaker.

In Hungarian, the past tense has two main variants: the past definite, illustrated by várta, and the past indefinite, illustrated by várt. The past definite adds the suffix -ta/-te to the verb stem and is chosen when the object is specific or definite. For example, várta a postást means “he waited for the postman.”

Morphology and usage notes: várta is specifically the third-person singular past definite form. Other forms of várni include vár (present), várta (past definite third person singular with a definite object), and várt (past indefinite or general past). The choice between várta and várt hinges on whether the object being waited for is definite.

Examples:

- Ő várta a postást. (“He was waiting for the postman.”)

- A tanár már várt a diákokra. (The teacher was already waiting for the students; the object is definite in context.)

See also:

- várni, the infinitive meaning to wait or to expect

- Hungarian verb conjugation, particularly the past definite vs. past indefinite forms

Várta thus functions as a specific past-tense formation used in narrative or descriptive contexts to indicate a completed act of waiting for a known, definite object.