faktumok

Faktumok are the plural form of faktum, a term used in Hungarian to refer to statements or data points about reality that can be verified or substantiated. They are commonly encountered in scientific, legal, and journalistic contexts, where concrete observations or pieces of evidence are described and assessed.

The word faktum is a loanword that comes from Latin factum, meaning “something made or done.” It entered Hungarian via broader European languages and is used alongside native terms such as tény. The plural form faktumok is created by the standard Hungarian -ok suffix, matching the language’s regular inflection pattern for borrowed nouns.

In Hungarian usage, faktum often carries a nuance related to data points or empirical observations, whereas the word tény tends to denote a fact in the sense of truth or reality. Consequently, faktumok may be preferred in technical or evidentiary contexts, while tények might be favored in everyday speech. Nevertheless, the two terms can overlap, and the choice between them can depend on register, discipline, and authorial preference.

Examples illustrate the distinction and overlap. A kísérlet megfigyelései faktumok, amelyeket reprodukálni lehet. A jelentés három faktumot említ: az elvégzett kísérletet, a mért környezeti feltételeket, és a mérési eredmények reprodukálhatóságát. A vállalati jelentés szerint a nyereség nőtt, ez faktum, de az összefüggések értelmezése vitatható.

See also: tény, adat, bizonyíték.