Elszóval

Elszóval is a Hungarian noun form meaning the instrumental case of elszó, which translates to “secret word” or “password.” In contemporary usage, the term jelszó (the more common word for password) is usually preferred, so elszóval is largely found in historical, literary, or stylistic contexts. The expression denotes the means or instrument by which something is done, rather than the password itself.

As a grammatical construction, elszóval functions as an instrumental complement. It answers questions like “with what” or “by which means” something is performed. It can appear in contexts related to access, security, or verification, for example: Az ajtó megnyitásához elszóval van szükség. In modern technical writing, jelszóval is favored, and elszóval may occur in older texts, translations, or more formal prose.

Etymology and morphology: elszóval is formed from the prefix el- plus szó meaning “word,” together with the instrumental suffix -val (-vel). The base noun elszó means “secret word” or “password,” and its instrumental plural is elszavakkal (“with the secret words” or “with passwords”). The sense is largely historical or stylistic in contemporary Hungarian, with the modern equivalent being jelszóval.

See also: jelszó, titkos szó. In current usage, the standard expression for “with a password” is jelszóval; elszóval appears primarily in older or literary texts.