tuffának

Tuffának is the dative singular form of the Hungarian noun tuffa, meaning “to the tuff” or “for the tuff.” In Hungarian grammar, the suffixes -nak and -nek mark the indirect object (the dative), and tuffának illustrates how these endings attach to a stem ending in a back vowel. The word form is used in linguistic discussion of case endings and, in context, can appear in phrases referring to a tuff in a sentence.

Etymology and usage context: The noun tuffa comes from the geological term for volcanic ash rock, borrowed into Hungarian from languages such as Italian (tufo) via Latin and other European sources. Tuffa denotes the rock type, while tuffának represents the grammatical case form rather than a distinct scientific term.

Geological background: Tuffa is a volcanic rock formed from consolidated volcanic ash ejected during explosive eruptions. It is typically porous and light, with composition ranging from fine ash to larger fragments, often cemented by minerals. Subtypes include non-welded tuffa and welded tuffa, the latter arising when hot ash deposits fuse before cooling. Tuffa formations occur in many volcanic regions around the world and are important for stratigraphy and paleoenvironment reconstruction. They may contain pumice fragments, crystals, and layered ash beds, reflecting episodic eruptive activity.

Summary: Tuffának is a Hungarian grammatical form tied to the noun tuffa, while tuffa refers to a volcanic ash rock and its various subtypes. The term is used across linguistic and geological contexts within Hungarian discourse.