Osság

Osság is a Hungarian suffix used to form abstract nouns that denote a state, condition, or quality derived from an adjective or noun. It is part of the productive system of noun formation in Hungarian, commonly grouped with the closely related suffixes -ság and -ség. The suffix occurs in different spellings, typically as -osság or -sság, with phonological adjustments that preserve pronunciation depending on the preceding stem.

Common examples include magasság (height), hangosság (loudness or sonority), and nyilvánosság (public sphere or publicity). These words illustrate how osság expresses a generalized state or quality rather than a concrete object. The suffix often conveys attributes that are perceived, measurable, or conceptual rather than tangible.

Usage notes: osság is widely used in everyday language as well as in formal or technical registers. It can form nouns from adjectives or stems in which the notion of a state or property is central. In many cases, the suffix participates in phonological adjustments, including consonant doubling, to maintain ease of pronunciation in the resulting word. Osság is part of a broader family of Hungarian suffixes that create abstract nouns used to discuss qualities, conditions, and concepts.