bukfenc

Hungarian

Alternative forms

  • bukhenc, bukvenc (archaic)

Etymology

Of internal origin, but its formation is uncertain. Possibly related to bukik (to fall, tumble). Numerous archaic and dialectal variants exist. The bak- variants (e.g., bakfinc) were possibly folk-etymologically influenced by bak (goat buck), referencing the similarity between a buck's jumping and doing a somersault (see also bakfitty, bakfincál, bakfincoz). For a similar semantic connection, compare the dialectal synonyms kecskebuk, kecskebuka (see kecske (goat)) and German Purzelbock (from purzeln (to tumble) +‎ Bock (buck)).[1] First attested in 1574.[1]

The alternative theory that it is a euphemistic and jocular compound of bukik (to fall, tumble) +‎ segg (arse, buttocks) is considered less likely.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈbukfɛnt͡s]
  • Hyphenation: buk‧fenc
  • Rhymes: -ɛnt͡s

Noun

bukfenc (plural bukfencek)

  1. somersault (an instance of rotating one's body 360 degrees while airborne or on the ground, with one's feet passing over one's head)
    1. (chiefly gymnastics) a somersault performed in the air; a salto
      Synonyms: szaltó, halálugrás
  2. (figurative) a complete and unexpected change or overturn (of opinion, thought, behaviour, etc.)

Declension

Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)
singular plural
nominative bukfenc bukfencek
accusative bukfencet bukfenceket
dative bukfencnek bukfenceknek
instrumental bukfenccel bukfencekkel
causal-final bukfencért bukfencekért
translative bukfenccé bukfencekké
terminative bukfencig bukfencekig
essive-formal bukfencként bukfencekként
essive-modal
inessive bukfencben bukfencekben
superessive bukfencen bukfenceken
adessive bukfencnél bukfenceknél
illative bukfencbe bukfencekbe
sublative bukfencre bukfencekre
allative bukfenchez bukfencekhez
elative bukfencből bukfencekből
delative bukfencről bukfencekről
ablative bukfenctől bukfencektől
non-attributive
possessive – singular
bukfencé bukfenceké
non-attributive
possessive – plural
bukfencéi bukfencekéi
Possessive forms of bukfenc
possessor single possession multiple possessions
1st person sing. bukfencem bukfenceim
2nd person sing. bukfenced bukfenceid
3rd person sing. bukfence bukfencei
1st person plural bukfencünk bukfenceink
2nd person plural bukfencetek bukfenceitek
3rd person plural bukfencük bukfenceik

Derived terms

  • bukfencel
  • bukfences
  • bukfencezik
Compound words
  • bukfenchányás
  • bukfenchányó
  • előrebukfenc
  • hátrabukfenc
  • tigrisbukfenc
Expressions
  • bukfencet hány
  • bukfencet vet

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 bukfenc in Károly Gerstner, editor, Új magyar etimológiai szótár [New Etymological Dictionary of Hungarian] (ÚESz.), Online edition (beta version), Budapest: MTA Research Institute for Linguistics / Hungarian Research Centre for Linguistics, 2011–2024.

Further reading

  • bukfenc in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
  • bukfenc in Ferenc Pusztai, editor, Magyar értelmező kéziszótár [A Concise Explanatory Dictionary of Hungarian] (ÉKsz.2), 2nd, expanded and revised edition, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2003 (online searchable version under development).
  • bukfenc in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2024).