Büntetett

Büntetett is a Hungarian word that functions as the past participle form of the verb büntetni, meaning to punish. Used as an adjective, it describes someone or something that has been punished or subjected to punishment. In everyday language the form is most often encountered in legal or administrative contexts.

A common and notable expression is büntetett előélet, which translates roughly to a criminal record or past criminal history. This phrase appears in employment, housing, or security checks, where the presence of büntetett előélet can influence decisions. While the term itself is neutral in grammatical terms, it frequently carries negative connotations due to its association with wrongdoing.

Grammatical notes: büntetett is the past participle of büntetni and, when used attributively, functions as an adjective modifying a noun. For example, büntetett előéletű személy means a person with a punished or criminal history. The participle also participates in standard Hungarian verb forms, such as megbüntették (they punished) in passive or perfect constructions. As an adjective, büntetett does not reflect gender, but it agrees with the noun in number and definiteness.

Etymology: büntetett is formed from the stem büntet- (to punish) with the standard Hungarian participial suffix -ett. The concept is tied to punishment and accountability and is primarily used within formal or official language rather than casual speech.

See also: büntetés, büntetőjog, büntetett előélet.