üresség (Hungarian)

Where does "üresség" come from?

The Hungarian word üresség combines the adjective üres, meaning 'empty,' with the noun-forming suffix -ség, which functions like the English '-ness.' The root üres itself traces back to an ancient stem *ür-, which also gave rise to words like üreg, referring to a cavity or hole. Together, they describe the state of being empty, effectively mapping the concept of a hollow space onto an abstract noun.

Full etymology tree

• üresség (Hungarian), 'emptiness'
  • affix üres (Hungarian), 'empty'
    • derived *ür- (Proto-Hungarian)
    • affix -es (Hungarian), 'Added to a noun to form an occupation or a collective noun.'
  • affix -ség (Hungarian), '-dom, -ness, -ity. Added to an adjective, noun or verb to form an abstract noun.'

Ancestors

• üres (Hungarian)
• -ség (Hungarian)

Updated July 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris