Erénynek

Erénynek is the dative singular form of the Hungarian noun erény, which means virtue or moral excellence. In standard Hungarian, erény is most often used in formal, literary, or religious contexts to denote a noble moral quality. The form erénynek marks the indirect object or the recipient/beneficiary of an action, as in sentences that discuss the virtue itself or something attributed to virtue.

In modern usage, erény most commonly appears in contexts such as moral philosophy, theology, or classical literature. Contemporary everyday language tends to use alternatives like erkölcs (morality) or jó tulajdonság (good quality) for more general discussions of character, while erény remains a staple in discussions of virtue ethics or evaluative descriptions of character.

Related terms include erényesség (virtue, virtuosity) and erények (virtues, plural). The phrase az erénynek is a common way to refer to virtue in a broader or collective sense, and erények is used when listing multiple virtues. The word erény itself is a native Hungarian term and has a long-standing presence in Hungarian literary and religious discourse.

See also: erény, erényesség, erények, erkölcs.