Között

Között is a Hungarian postposition meaning between or among. It denotes a spatial, temporal, or figurative relationship that exists from one reference point to another, typically involving two or more referents. The term is derived from köz, meaning middle, and is used after the noun or noun phrase it relates to.

In usage, között is most common in spatial expressions such as a ház és a templom között, meaning between the house and the church. It also appears in phrases that describe relationships or comparisons among several items, for example két ország között megállapodást írtak alá (an agreement was signed between two countries). The word can also form adjective compounds like közötti, used to describe something that lies between two elements, as in a két ország közötti megállapodás.

Között can combine with pronouns to express “between us,” “among them,” and similar meanings: közöttünk (among us), köztetek (among you all), közöttük (among them). This makes it a versatile tool for both concrete and abstract relations. It contrasts with közül, which is used in expressions like közül választhat to mean “he/she can choose among,” indicating selection from a set.

Etymologically, között comes from köz (middle) with a suffix forming a postposition that governs the relation between entities. In modern Hungarian, it is a stable, frequently used word for describing the space, interval, or association that links multiple referents. Overall, között provides a concise way to express relational positioning in both literal and figurative contexts.