közép

Közép is a Hungarian word with the basic sense of middle or center. It functions as both a noun and an adjective and is used to describe a position that is neither at an edge nor at an extreme, but rather at the central part of a space, a time frame, or a sequence.

In geography and regional naming, the term appears in compound names for central areas. In Hungary, examples include Közép-Magyarország (Central Hungary) and Közép-Dunántúl (Central Transdanubia). The expression Közép-Európa is also common in Hungarian to refer to Central Europe.

In everyday language, közép forms several familiar compounds. For example, középpont means midpoint or center point, and közélet means public life or civil society; középiskola refers to secondary school. The word also appears in other constructs to denote centrality in various contexts, such as discussions about geography, culture, or planning.

As a general concept, közép is used to indicate centrality or balance between extremes, not only in physical space but also in time, importance, or degree. It serves as a productive base for many compound nouns and place names, reflecting its broad utility in Hungarian vocabulary.