pályaudvaron

Pályaudvaron is the Hungarian locative form meaning “at the railway station.” The base noun pályaudvar refers to the railway station or the station precinct, including platforms and surrounding facilities. In many contexts vasútállomás is used as a more formal or general term for the railway station, while pályaudvar focuses slightly more on the station area and its passenger infrastructure.

The word pályaudvar is a compound of pálya (track, route) and udvar (courtyard, yard). This etymology reflects the historical idea of a yard or precinct where tracks and station buildings meet. The locative form is created by adding the suffix -on (with vowel harmony as appropriate), yielding pályaudvaron. The plural locative would be pályaudvarokon, following the same pattern.

In usage, pályaudvaron is employed to indicate where something happens or where someone is located. For example: A pályaudvaron sokan várják a vonatot. (Many people are waiting for the train at the railway station.) Dolgozik a pályaudvaron. (He/she works at the railway station.) The choice between pályaudvaron and vasútállomáson can reflect nuance: pályaudvaron often emphasizes the station precinct, while vasútállomáson may refer more neutrally to the station as a facility.

See also: vasútállomás, közlekedés, magyar nyelvtan.