Túlzsúfolt

Túlzsúfolt is a Hungarian adjective used to describe a place or situation that contains more people or objects than its capacity or comfortable space allows. It is commonly applied to crowded housing blocks, streets, public transport vehicles, and venues where occupancy exceeds safe or reasonable limits. The noun form is túlzsúfoltság, and related terms include zsúfoltság (crowding) and zsúfolt (crowded). The word is formed from the prefix túl-, meaning excessive or beyond, and the participle/adjective zsúfolt, derived from zsúfolni (to cram, to stuff).

In urban contexts, túlzsúfoltság can arise from rapid population growth, limited housing supply, aging infrastructure, or insufficient transport capacity. In workplaces or events, overcrowding can hinder movement, reduce comfort, increase stress, and raise safety concerns in emergencies. Health and safety standards often address overcrowding through occupancy limits, fire codes, ventilation requirements, and design guidelines.

Mitigation strategies focus on expanding housing and transit capacity, improving urban planning, and managing crowd flow. Approaches include building more housing units, upgrading public transit networks, enforcing occupancy limits, creating larger public spaces, and implementing crowd management at events.

The term is used descriptively in news, policy discussions, and academic writing to characterize conditions where crowding affects quality of life, accessibility, or safety. While some overcrowding is temporary or context-dependent, sustained túlzsúfolt conditions typically signal the need for policy or planning responses.