"Az asztal mellett ülök."

Translation: I sit beside the table.

[Senaqueribe77]

Doesn't "sit AT the table" fit here either? If not, how should I say "sitting AT the table" in Hungarian ??

[RyagonIV]

You would express that with the suffix -nál: Az asztalnál ülök.
Mellett is rather a 'beside' or 'next to'.

[Senaqueribe77]

Thank you for the explanation. Normally we sit at the table... but I understand the relatively unusual position was conceived just for training postpositions...

[Patricia460976]

One can, in fact, sit beside a table as opposed to at a table. At table implies sitting there facing one edge. Beside can nean sitting next to a table but not facing the edge.

[agentKnipe]

what about "I sit near the table"?

[ion1122]

'mellett' means 'beside', not 'near'. When you are 'beside 'something' you are right next to it, whereas when you are 'near' something, you are in the vicinity but not necessarily any closer.

[AmyHenwood]

Bill, I am so grateful for you explaining the subtle differences between words - it's really helping my learning :)

[WernerRetief723]

I'm sitting next to the table should be accepted.