Listalistája

Listalistája is a coined term used in linguistic discussion to describe a meta-noun in Hungarian that literally means “the list of lists.” It is formed by combining the base noun lista (list) with a second instance of lista and the possessive suffix -ja on the final element, producing listalistája. The construction serves as an example of how Hungarian can create nested compounds and possessive forms within a single word.

Etymology and morphology: The word illustrates compound formation and parallel repetition of a noun stem, followed by a standard possessive suffix. In this sense, it is a nonce or playful formation rather than a canonical entry in everyday Hungarian.

Semantics and usage: In theory, listalistája denotes a collection whose primary function is to catalogue other lists. It is commonly employed in linguistic demonstrations, puzzles, or playful writing to highlight self-reference or hierarchical listing structures. Because it is a coined term, usage tends to be confined to examples, exercises, or humorous contexts rather than standard prose.

Phonology and orthography: As a Hungarian word, listalistája follows typical Hungarian stress and syllable structure, with primary stress on the first syllable. The sequence of repeated lista elements is recognizable to speakers as a deliberate nesting of the noun.

Examples: A szerző készített egy listalistáját, amely a projekt minden bevezető listáját összegzi. In this sentence, the term signals a catalog that itself is a catalog of lists.

See also: lista, list, listázás, nesting in Hungarian morphology.