Pótolták

Pótolták is a Hungarian verb form meaning that someone filled in, supplied, or compensated for a deficiency. It is the past tense, third person plural, of the verb pótol, and is used when a group performed the action of making up for something that was lacking or missing, such as replenishing supplies, covering costs, or providing missing information.

In use, pótolták commonly appears in contexts where an organization or people address gaps or shortfalls. Examples include covering costs: “A költségeket pótolták,” meaning they reimbursed or made up the expenses; or replenishing inventories: “A hiányzó készleteket pótolták,” meaning the missing stock was supplied. The verb can also refer to supplying missing information, data, or materials, depending on the subject and object of the sentence.

Grammatically, pótolták is the finite, indicative, active form in the past tense for a plural subject. The base verb is pótol; the past tense suffix -ták follows the standard Hungarian pattern for 3rd person plural past tense, with vowel harmony affecting the surrounding vowels but not the basic meaning. The corresponding forms include pótolok (I compensate), pótolsz (you compensate), pótolja (he/she/it compensates), and pótoltam (I compensated).

Etymologically, pótol derives from the Hungarian root pót-, relating to filling, replacing, or making up for something. It is used across formal and informal registers, particularly in administrative, financial, educational, and logistical discourse, where gaps or shortages are being addressed. See also: pótolás (the act of making up or replenishment).