Dátumtól

Dátumtól is a Hungarian temporal postposition formed from the noun dátum (date) and the ablative suffix -tól. It marks the starting point in time from which something applies, takes effect, or is valid. The construction is common in formal and official language, including legal, administrative, contractual, and scheduling contexts.

Morphology and usage: Dátumtól is a fixed form that attaches to the stem of a noun to indicate origin in time. It is often used together with a specific calendar date, as in 2024. július 1-tól, but it can also stand alone when the date is clear from context, as in A rendelet dátumtól hatályos. The phrase frequently appears in combination with other temporal markers such as dátumtól kezdve (“from the date onward”) or dátumtól számítva (“counting from the date”).

Examples of use: A szerződés dátumtól hatályos. A kedvezmény dátumtól érvényes. A változások dátumtól kezdve érvényesek. In each case, dátumtól functions to anchor the time reference to a specific starting point, aligning obligations, rights, or effects with a defined date.

Relation to other forms: Dátumtól is closely related to phrases like dátumtól kezdve and dátumtól számítva, which expand or clarify the time frame. These variants provide nuanced meanings for the duration and progression of effects, with dátumtól serving as the base form for time-origin references.

See also: Hungarian grammar, temporal expressions, ablative case in Hungarian.