Elszeretettel

Elszeretettel is a Hungarian closing formula used in written communication to express warm regards or affectionate sentiment toward the recipient. It translates roughly as “with much affection” or “with warm regards,” and is commonly found at the end of letters and emails.

Usage typically appears in personal correspondence or semi-formal messages between friends, family members, or close colleagues. It is often used as a stand-alone closing line before the signature (for example, simply “elszeretettel,” followed by the sender’s name) or within a sentence to convey warmth. In many contexts, it signals a friendly, rather than strictly formal, tone.

Etymology and form: the phrase is built from szeretet, meaning “love,” with the adverbial suffix -tel meaning “with,” and an introductory el- element that functions as part of a fixed collocation in Hungarian. As a result, elszeretettel is treated as a conventional idiomatic expression rather than a freely productive construction.

Tone and register: elszeretettel is less formal than typical official closings such as "tisztelettel" and can feel intimate or heartfelt. It is generally appropriate in personal letters and in communications where warmth is appropriate, but less suitable for formal business correspondence.

See also: szeretettel, üdvözlettel, tisztelettel. These closings illustrate the spectrum of tone available in Hungarian letter-writing.