kevesebben

Kevesebben is a Hungarian expression used to indicate a smaller number of people, typically translated as “fewer people.” It functions as a quantitative descriptor in sentences about attendance, crowds, or participation, and is commonly found in news reports, surveys, and everyday speech. The form is derived from the adjective meaning few and is used when the subject refers to people.

In usage, kevesebben is often paired with verbs describing action or existence, such as megjelentek, jelentek meg, jöttek, vagy vettek részt. It signals a comparison to a previous situation or forecast. For example: Kevesebben jelentek meg a konferencián, mint tavaly. A felmérés szerint kevesebben vették igénybe a szolgáltatást. These constructions emphasize a decline or smaller turnout relative to another reference point.

Grammatically, kevesebben is most commonly used with plural nouns referring to people, though it can occur in various syntactic positions in a sentence. It contrasts with nagyobb számú, több vagy sok kifejezésekkel, which express larger numbers or attendances. The counterpart for larger audiences is többen, or többet in other constructions.

In media and public discourse, kevesebben is a frequent headline and paragraph element when reporting on attendance, voter turnout, event participation, or demographic trends. It is typically used neutrally to present a data-driven observation rather than an evaluative judgment.

See also: kevés, kevesebb, kevesen, többen, többet.