tovább

Tovább is a Hungarian adverb and derivational prefix meaning forward, onward, or further. It denotes progression in space, time, or abstract development and functions both as an independent word and as part of compound formations. The term is widely used in everyday language, education, media, and road or instruction contexts.

As an adverb, tövább can indicate moving to the next point or continuing an action. Examples include statements like a vehicle continuing along its route or a process that keeps going: “A vonat tovább halad” (The train continues forward) or “A beszéd tovább tart” (The speech lasts longer). In discourse, tívább can also introduce a continuation of argument or narrative, as in “tovább” meaning “and then,” “moreover,” or “still,” depending on the context. A common idiomatic use is “továbbra is,” meaning still or furthermore, as in “Továbbra is szükség van rá” (There is still a need for it).

As a prefix, tovább- attaches to verbs to express continuation, increase, or extension, creating many widely used compound words. Examples include továbbképzés (continuing education), továbbtanulás (further studies), továbbfejlesztés (further development), and továbbjutás (advancement). These compounds are usually written as one word in Hungarian, reflecting a productive prefixal meaning of extending or advancing the action.

The term is common in formal and informal speech and appears in signage, instructions, and media to signal progression, continuation, or the desire to move forward. It is a flexible element of Hungarian morphology with clear semantic links to the notions of forward movement and ongoing progression.

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