Távolabb

Távolabb is a Hungarian adverb meaning farther away or more distant. It is used to express a greater distance from a reference point, or to describe movement toward a greater separation. The word functions as a comparative form and is commonly used with verbs of position or prepositional phrases.

Etymology and form: Távolabb is formed from the distance word távol by adding the suffix -abb, creating a comparative adverb. It represents the comparative degree of distance and has a corresponding superlative form, legtávolabb, meaning the farthest away. In Hungarian, such comparative adverbs describe relative distance rather than absolute measures.

Usage and nuance: Távolabb can describe physical distance, as in “Az erdő távolabb van a háztól,” The forest is farther away from the house. It also appears in comparisons: “Az iskola távolabb van a vasútállomástól, mint a bolt,” The school is further from the train station than the shop. Beyond literal distance, távolabb can be used figuratively to denote thinking or planning in greater terms, for example, “távolabb gondolkodni,” meaning to think more broadly or ahead.

Synonyms and register: Common synonyms include messzebb, though messzebb is often more colloquial. Távolabb tends toward neutral or slightly formal usage and is widely understood in standard Hungarian.

See also: távol, távolság, legtávolabb, messzebb, távolodás.

Note: This article provides a concise overview of távolabb as a linguistic item in Hungarian and may not cover every regional usage or nuance.