legtöbben

Legtöbben is a Hungarian expression used to denote the group that has the greatest number within a defined set, effectively the majority. It functions as a noun phrase and is most commonly used with a definite article, such as a legtöbben or a legtöbben közül (the majority; the most of them within). The phrase is typically employed as the subject of a sentence: for example, A legtöbben otthon maradtak, meaning “Most stayed at home.” It can appear in both formal and informal contexts and is often considered a natural, everyday way to refer to the largest group in a given comparison or situation. In many contexts, legtöbben is used interchangeably with többség, though többség is a more formal or precise term for “majority.”

Examples of use include statements about opinions, presence, or participation within a group: A legtöbben a diákok közül érkeztek, A legtöbben egyetértettek, és meghozták a döntést. The expression emphasizes numerical predominance rather than qualitative judgment and is especially common in media, surveys, and informal discourse.

Etymology and related terms: Legtöbben is formed from the prefix leg- meaning the utmost or most, attached to több (more) and inflected for the context, yielding a plural/collective sense of “the most (people).” Related terms include többség (majority), legnagyobb (largest), and leginkább (primarily).