Cáfol

Cáfol is a Hungarian verb meaning to refute, deny, disprove, or contradict. It is used when presenting counterarguments or evidence that contradicts a claim, statement, or hypothesis. The term often carries a stronger connotation than a simple denial, implying a direct challenge to the validity of what was stated.

Usage and nuance: Cáfol is commonly found in academic, legal, political, and media discourse. It distinguishes from tagad, which broadly means to deny, by emphasizing disproving or invalidating the claim with evidence or reasoning. The related noun cáfolat can refer to a refutation or counter-argument, while cáfolható means refutable and cáfolhatatlan means irrefutable.

Forms and grammar: Infinitive form is cáfolni. Present indicative forms are: én cáfolok, te cáfolsz, ő cáfol, mi cáfolunk, ti cáfoltok, ők cáfolnak. Past tense forms include: én cáfoltam, te cáfoltál, ő cáfolt, mi cáfoltunk, ti cáfoltatok, ők cáfoltak. The verb is regularly conjugated with auxiliary structures for future tense, such as fogok cáfolni (“I will refute”). The past participle is cáfolt.

Related terms: cáfolat means a refutation or counter-argument, cáfolhatatlan means irrefutable, and cáfolható means refutable. The term is a core verb in analytic discussions involving evidence, critique, or debate.

Example: A vádakat cáfolta. (He/She refuted the charges.) A tanúk cáfolták az állítást. (The witnesses refuted the statement.)