Pillanatában

Pillanatában is a Hungarian linguistic term referring to a locational form built from the noun pillanat (moment) with the possessive suffix and the inessive case marker. It functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a specific moment or point in time, often in relation to a subject or object mentioned in the surrounding text. The form conveys a sense of “at that moment” or “in its moment,” depending on context and possessive agreement.

Morphology and form: pillanatában is formed from pillanat, the possessive suffix -a (indicating possession or a related referent), and the inessive suffix -ban/-ben, with assimilation yielding -ában. The exact interpretation arises from context, and the phrase commonly modifies a noun phrase in which the possessor is implied or stated elsewhere in the sentence. This construction parallels other Hungarian forms that locate action or state temporally while signaling possession or association.

Usage and nuance: In literary and descriptive prose, pillanatában is used to anchor events to a particular moment tied to a subject, object, or situation. It can mark a turning point, a dramatic beat, or a salient instant within a narrative. The phrase is flexible and often appears in phrases such as “legdrámaibb pillanatában” (in its most dramatic moment) or “az adott pillanatában” (in that moment), though exact translation depends on context and possessor reference.

See also: pillanat, pillanatok, pillanatnyi, inessive case.