egyszer

Egyszer is a Hungarian adverb meaning “one time” or “once.” It is formed from the numeral egy meaning “one,” with the suffix -szer, which is used to create adverbs of frequency from numerals (egyszer, kétszer, háromszor, etc.). In standard usage, egyszer marks a single occurrence or a non-specific point in time and can introduce past, present, or future events depending on the verb it modifies.

Usage and nuances: Egyszer can refer to a single past event, a hypothetical or indefinit e moment, or a generalized idea of occurrence. It commonly appears in fairy-tale openings as a fixed phrase, for example, “Egyszer volt, hol nem volt” (“Once upon a time, there was, in a place that was not there”). It also occurs in constructions like “egyszerűen” or “egyszer csak,” where the latter means “suddenly” or “all of a sudden.” In everyday speech, it can be paired with other words to specify frequency or timing, such as “egyszeri találkozó” (a one-off meeting) or “ez egyszeri alkalom” (this is a one-time occasion).

Translations and related forms: In English, egyszer is most directly translated as “once” or “one time.” Related forms include kétszer (“twice”), háromszor (“three times”), and egy alkalommal (on one occasion). The compound egyszerű is unrelated in meaning; for frequency, the parallel forms with -szer are regular across Hungarian numerals.

See also: Hungarian grammar of adverbs of frequency, number-based adverbs, common idioms featuring egyszer, egyszersmind (a literary/archaic synonym meaning “at the same time”).