Bocsátani

Bocsátani is a Hungarian verb with several related meanings centered on letting something go or making it available to others. The core senses are to emit or give off (such as light, heat, smoke, or sound) and to issue or publish something (such as a statement, document, or decision). In emissions, the common construction is to bocsát ki, as in a lamp that bocsát ki fényt (emits light) or a stove that bocsát ki füst (emits smoke). In an administrative sense, it is used with ki to indicate that something is issued to the public or to an audience, for example nyilatkozatot bocsát ki (issues a statement) or közleményt bocsát ki (issues a press release).

Grammatical and usage notes: bocsátani is a regular -ani verb. Present tense forms are bocsátok, bocsátasz, bocsát, bocsátunk, bocsátotok, bocsátanak. The past tense is formed with a -tott participle: bocsátottam, bocsátottál, bocsátott, etc. The infinitive is bocsátani and the past participle is bocsátott. The imperative forms are bocsáss (singular) and bocsássatok (plural). The verb is often used without a prefix for release or emission, and with the prefix ki to denote outward emission or publication.

Semantic notes: bocsátani should not be confused with megbocsátani, which means to forgive. For the sense of dismissing someone from a job, Hungarian typically uses elbocsátani rather than a simple form of bocsátani.

Related terms include bocsátás (the act of releasing or emitting) and kibocsátás (issuance or emission, especially of documents or securities). See also elbocsátani and kibocsátani for related constructions.