Altató

Altató is a Hungarian term with several related meanings connected to sleep and soothing. As a noun, it most commonly refers to a lullaby or a song used to lull a child to sleep. It can also function as an adjective describing something sleep-inducing, and in medical language it denotes drugs, techniques, or professionals involved in anesthesia. The word derives from the verb altat, to lull to sleep, with the suffix -ó forming a noun or agent.

In everyday use, an altató is a lullaby, a gentle song or rhyme that helps calm a child and ease it into sleep. Altatók are typically sung by parents, grandparents, or caregivers and can be performed with guitar or piano accompaniment or simply spoken or whispered. Traditional Hungarian lullabies are an established part of folk and family culture and are passed down across generations.

In medical contexts, altató refers to sleep-inducing agents and procedures used during anesthesia. Anesthetic drugs are described as altatók or altatóanyagok, and the professional who administers them is commonly called an altatóorvos (anesthesiologist). The term also appears in phrases describing anesthesia techniques and the overall practice of providing sleep or unconsciousness during surgical procedures.

Overall, altató carries both a cultural meaning—lullabies used to soothe children—and a clinical one related to sleep-inducing substances and anesthesia, reflecting its roots in lull and sleep.