Forrásoknál

Forrásoknál is a Hungarian locative form meaning "at the sources" or "by the sources." It is formed from the plural noun források (sources) plus the locative suffix -nál, which marks location at or near something. The corresponding singular form is forrásnál. This construction is used to indicate the exact place where an action occurs or where a feature is found.

In grammar, the suffix -nál attaches to a noun to express location at/near. The plural form for sources combines the plural suffix -ok with the locative -nál, yielding forrásoknál. The usual word order in Hungarian remains; the locative phrase often functions as a location complement before the verb, as in the examples below.

Usage contexts include geography, hydrology, archaeology, field research, and descriptive writing, where it is natural to specify where observations or actions take place. It is distinct from forms such as forrásokból (from the sources) or a forrásokban (inside the sources). The choice between these forms hinges on whether the intended meaning is location at the sources, movement from the sources, or position within the sources.

Examples:

- A kutató a forrásoknál vette fel a vizet elemzésre. (The researcher collected water at the sources for analysis.)

- A mintákat a forrásoknál gyűjtötték a terepmunkában. (The samples were collected at the sources during fieldwork.)

Thus, forrásoknál serves as a precise locational marker in Hungarian, indicating proximity to multiple water sources or other referenced sites.