Oldalú

Oldalú is a Hungarian adjective formed from the noun oldal, meaning “side,” with the suffix -ú. The form is used to express that something possesses a certain number of sides or facets and it typically appears in compound adjectives rather than as a standalone term.

In standard usage, common examples include egyoldalú (one-sided), kétoldalú (two-sided), háromoldalú (three-sided), and többoldalú (multilateral or multisided). The numerals or modifiers before oldalú indicate the number of sides or facets, and the construction can be extended metaphorically to describe issues or approaches with multiple aspects, such as többoldalú vita or többoldalú megközelítés.

Etymology and formation: the adjective is created by attaching the suffix -ú to oldal, a productive pattern in Hungarian for describing objects with physical sides, surfaces, or faces, as well as abstract aspects. The form is primarily used in compound adjectives; standalone use of oldalú is uncommon outside these expressions.

Usage notes: while egyoldalú and kétoldalú are widely used in everyday language, other cardinal-numbered forms (such as háromoldalú or többoldalú) appear in more formal or technical contexts, including legal, political, and academic writing. The word’s meaning can be literal (referring to physical sides) or figurative (referring to multiple facets of an issue).

See also: oldal, egyoldalú, kétoldalú, háromoldalú, többoldalú.