tartózkodtak

Tartózkodtak is a Hungarian verb form, the third-person plural past tense of tartózkodni. The verb tartózkodni has two core senses: to stay somewhere temporarily, and to refrain from doing something. Therefore tartózkodtak can mean either “they stayed (somewhere)” or “they refrained (from doing something),” depending on context.

Grammatical notes: Hungarian marks the third-person plural past tense with endings such as -tak/-tek/-ták, chosen according to vowel harmony and definiteness. In tartózkodtak, the -tak suffix indicates a past tense with a plural subject. The form aligns with other past definite conjugations of -odni verbs. Present forms are tartózkodnak (they stay) and tartózkodik (he/she stays); the corresponding noun is tartózkodás (stay or abstention).

Usage and examples:

- A csoport tagjai a városban tartózkodtak két napig. (The group members stayed in the city for two days.)

- A döntéshozók a nyilatkozat kiadásától tartózkodtak. (The decision-makers refrained from issuing a statement.)

Related forms: The present tense form is tartózkodnak (they stay), and tartózkodik (he/she stays). The noun tartózkodás refers to the act or state of staying or abstaining. The present participle tartózkodó describes someone who stays or abstains.

Etymology and nuance: Tartózkodni combines a base related to tartó (holder/keep) with a middle voice suffix, yielding a broader sense of remaining in a place or withholding action. In practice, tartózkodtak is used in formal or written Hungarian, including news reports and official statements, to describe past actions of multiple subjects.