melléknévfnév

Melléknévfnév is a grammatical term in Hungarian that describes a word that functions as both an adjective and a noun. This phenomenon, often referred to as nominalization of adjectives, occurs when an adjective is used in a context where it takes on the characteristics of a noun, referring to a person or thing possessing the quality described by the adjective.

In Hungarian, the formation of melléknévfnév can happen in several ways. Often, the adjective is used without an explicit noun, and its meaning is understood from the context. For example, "A piros" can mean "the red one" or "the red one(s)," referring to a red object or people. The definite article "a" or "az" is typically used before the melléknévfnév. Pluralization can also occur, as in "a pirosak" meaning "the red ones."

Another common way this grammatical structure manifests is through the use of possessive suffixes. When an adjective is followed by a possessive suffix, it clearly indicates that the adjective is functioning as a noun referring to something belonging to someone or something described by the adjective. For instance, "a te jó" (yours, the good one) or "az én nagy" (mine, the big one).

The concept of melléknévfnév highlights the flexibility of the Hungarian language, where word classes can sometimes blend. Understanding this grammatical feature is crucial for comprehending the nuances of Hungarian sentence structure and meaning, particularly in spoken language and informal writing where conciseness is often prioritized. It allows for more economical expression by avoiding the repetition of nouns.