megtörténtkor

Megtörténtkor is a Hungarian temporal adverbial phrase composed of the past participle of the verb megtörténni ("to happen") and the suffix –kor, which denotes a point in time. The literal translation is “when it happened” or “at the time it occurred.” In everyday speech the expression is often used to refer to a specific moment in the past, especially when contrasting it with a present or future situation. For example, one might say, “Megtörténtkor még nem volt ilyen nagy szuplés az utazóközlekedésben,” meaning “When it happened, there was no such great shortage of travel routes.”

The phrase appears frequently in Hungarian literature, historical discourse, and journalism to anchor events chronologically. It is also used stylistically in poetry and prose to create a reflective mood. Because –kor is a versatile temporal marker, the word can be combined with other past participles to form expressions such as „alkalmaztákkor” or “létrejöttkor.” In more formal contexts, the equivalent phrase “az esemény bekövetkezésekor” may be used, but “megtörténtkor” remains preferred in colloquial and literary registers.

In colloquial conversation the phrase often carries a nostalgic tone, recalling moments that have left a lasting impression. It is also employed in legal and official texts to specify the exact timing of regulatory enactments or events that triggered legal effects. Overall, megtörténtkor serves as a concise way to pinpoint a specific point in time, bridging the past with the present in both everyday and formal Hungarian usage.