Számon

Számon is the locative case form of the Hungarian noun szám, which can mean number, count, account, or a musical piece depending on context. It is created by adding the locative suffix -on to the stem szám. In ordinary use, számon does not carry an independent lexeme of its own; its meaning arises from the noun it derives from and the verbal constructions it participates in.

In practice, számon appears mainly in fixed idiomatic expressions and composite verbs that convey accountability, oversight, or reference to a tally. The best-known examples are számon kérni, meaning to hold someone to account or to demand an explanation. For instance: A tanár számon kérte a diákokat a feladatokért. Another common construction is számon tartani, meaning to keep track of or monitor, often in the sense of maintaining oversight. For example: A vezetőség a projektek állapotát számon tartja.

Számon also features in formal or legal language where precise accountability language is important. Because it is a case form of szám, számon does not function as an independent word; its specific meaning is determined by the accompanying verb and the broader context.

Etymology and usage notes: the form combines szám with the locative suffix -on, yielding a sense of “on the number” in a literal sense, which has been extended in idiomatic phrases to denote accounting, reckoning, or verification. The term is most common in written and formal Hungarian, as well as in administrative or evaluative speech.

See also: Hungarian locative cases; fréquence of -on/-en/-ön suffixes; számonkérés.