Átmen

Átmen is not a common standalone headword in standard Hungarian dictionaries; rather, it is usually encountered as a stem or in truncated form within longer words. The term most often associated with meaning “transition” or “passage” is átmenet, which is widely used across disciplines to denote a shift from one state, condition, or place to another. In many contexts, átmenet also designates a transitional period, such as a political or societal transition, or a temporary phase in processes and systems.

Etymology and sense development: át- is a prefix meaning across or through, and menet refers to movement or marching. Together, they convey the notion of moving across a boundary or from one regime into another. This semantic core underpins its use in various fields, both literal and metaphorical.

Usage across domains: In science and engineering, fázisátmenet (phase transition) and állapotátmenet (state transition) are common terms. In linguistics or phonology, one might speak of hangátmenet for a sound transition between phonetic realizations. In social and political discourse, átmenet denotes a transitional period during which institutions or policies shift from one configuration to another. In everyday language, átmenet is the standard form for most discussions of change, while átmen may appear only as a partial form in informal writing or as a root in compound words.

See also: átmenet, fázisátmenet, állapotátmenet, átmeneti.