Alábukás

Alábukás is a Hungarian noun that denotes the act or process of sinking downward or sagging under weight or pressure. It is formed from the prefix alá- and the verb bukik, conveying downward movement rather than upward emergence.

The term is used in both literal and figurative senses. In everyday language it describes physical sagging of an object under load, such as a shelf, floor, or platform that yields. In engineering and geology it refers to subsidence or deformation of ground or structures caused by factors like overloading, poor foundation, fluid withdrawal, or natural compaction. It can lead to cracks, uneven surfaces, or depressions.

Figuratively, alábukás can describe a decline or failure in non-physical domains, such as performance, popularity, or health, metaphorically described as something sagging under strain.

Etymology notes: prefix alá- means under or below; bukik denotes movement; together they express downward sinking or yielding. The word is primarily used in Hungarian and appears in both technical and everyday language, though in some contexts more common alternatives include subsidence or sagging.