szóösszetétésnek

Szóösszetételnek, also known as word compounding, is a linguistic process where two or more existing words are combined to create a new word with a new meaning. This phenomenon is present in many languages, including Hungarian, where it is a very common and productive word-formation method. The resulting compound word often has a meaning that is more specific or nuanced than the sum of its parts.

In Hungarian, szóösszetételnek can occur between various word classes, such as noun-noun, adjective-noun, verb-noun, or even adverb-noun combinations. For example, "nap" (sun) and "fény" (light) combine to form "napfény" (sunlight). Similarly, "szép" (beautiful) and "lány" (girl) create "széplány" (beautiful girl). The order of the constituent words is important; it typically reflects the semantic relationship between the elements, with the first word often modifying or specifying the second.

Compound words can be written as a single word (e.g., "vasút" - railway, from "vas" iron and "út" road) or as two separate words, depending on the specific combination and context. The grammatical function of the compound word is usually determined by its head, which is the second element in most cases. Szóösszetételnek is a fundamental aspect of vocabulary expansion and allows for the creation of precise and economical expressions.