"Éva készíti a paprikást, én eszem."

Translation: Éva is preparing the paprikás, I am eating it.

[in_circles]

Aha! I think I just had a moment of insight. I translated the second half as "I am eating," but because the sentence uses the definite conjugation, it has to be translated as "I am eating it [the paprikas]," right?

[GabrielHardy]

"Éva is making the paprikás" should be accepted. In hungarian different words are used for the "prepare" word translation, therefore make is also a correct translation from hungarian,
to english.

[Judit294350]

True. Although my (English and Science) teachers would object. People cannot make food - they can only prepare it. Plants make food.

[Kolozs2]

Then what's wrong with 'fixing' which is widely used?

[Judit294350]

Widely used where? Best avoid casual language at this stage - "prepare" matches the register of "készít" (which is not slang).

[Kolozs2]

Well, surely around Salt Lake City and the rest of the State as well, but it was common in San Francisco too, where I lived for a while. US friends tell me that it's a common expression in a few Southern/Eastern States too. But I understand your point and thank you for your time.

[Scherjuli]

Eva kesziti a paprikast, en MEGESZEM. (I eat it) instead of "en eszem" (I eat)

[laszlo914063]

Perfect. It is more meaninful than the original sentence, that might also mean that I eat other meal than "paprikás".

[Ackerbau]

I am eating without it should work.

[Judit294350]

No. It is not enough. You could be eating bread and butter while Éva slaves away in the kitchen.

[MarinaStarfish]

Considering that "eszik" is an "-ik" verb, it's not clear whether "eszem" is definite or indefinite here, so it might mean just that - Éva is making the paprikás and I'm standing next to her eating a sandwich.