Hirtelen

Hirtelen is a Hungarian adverb meaning “suddenly” or “abruptly.” It describes a rapid, unexpected change of state or action and typically modifies a verb or clause. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence; for example, “Hirtelen leállt a gép” means “The machine suddenly stopped.” In general, the word is neutral in tone and common in both narrative prose and everyday speech.

Etymology: The origin of hirtelen is native Hungarian; precise historical roots are not clearly established in widely available sources. It is not formed by a transparent prefix or suffix, but functions as a standalone adverb conveying abruptness.

Usage notes: As a functional adverb, hirtelen is versatile across tenses and aspects since it modifies the main verb. It is often used to frame moments of sudden change in actions, events, or perceptions, contributing to a concise, instantaneous temporal sense in a sentence.

Other uses: Outside linguistic function, hirtelen may occur as a surname or place name in Hungarian contexts, though such uses are relatively uncommon and not tied to a widely known figure or location in common reference works.