amit nyer a réven, elveszti a vámon

Hungarian

Etymology

ami (“what”) +‎ -t (accusative suffix) +‎ nyer (“to win”) +‎ a (“the”) +‎ rév (“port”) +‎ -en (“on”, case suffix) +‎ elveszt (“to lose”) +‎ -i (personal suffix) +‎ a (“the”) +‎ vám (“customs”) +‎ -on (“on”, case suffix), literally, "whatever one gains at the toll, one loses it at the customs."

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒmit ˈɲɛrɒ ˈreːvɛn ˈɛlvɛstijɒ ˈvaːmon]

Phrase

amit nyer a réven, elveszti a vámon

1. what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts, swings and roundabouts

Conjugation

• Amit, a réven, a vámon remain unchanged.
• Nyer and elveszti may be used in any person and in any time depending on who the phrase is applied to, and elveszti may occur with the potential suffix (elvesztheti).