Alapszótöv

Alapszótöv is a Hungarian term that translates roughly to "root word" or "base word." It refers to the fundamental, irreducible form of a word from which other words are derived through the addition of prefixes and suffixes. In Hungarian grammar, understanding alapszótöv is crucial for deciphering word meanings and understanding how words are constructed. For instance, the alapszótöv for "ház" (house) can lead to words like "házam" (my house), "házban" (in the house), and "házaim" (my houses). The concept is similar to root words in other languages, but the agglutinative nature of Hungarian means that a single alapszótöv can be combined with numerous affixes to create a wide range of meanings and grammatical functions. Identifying the alapszótöv allows learners to break down complex words into their core components, making the language more accessible and manageable. It is a foundational element in the study of Hungarian morphology and etymology.