Felszóló

Felszóló is a term used in Hungarian grammar to designate the imperative mood, the verb form used to express commands, requests, or invitations. The name derives from the Hungarian verb felszólni, meaning to call upon or exhort, with the -ó suffix forming a label for this mood. In everyday language, the felszóló mood is the direct mode for addressing someone and prompting an action.

The imperative forms are most commonly realized in the second person: singular and plural. Typical examples include írj! (write!) and írjatok! (write!). The negative imperative is formed with ne: ne írj! (don’t write!) and ne írjatok! (don't write!). In addition, Hungarian also has a formal or polite imperative built on third-person forms, such as írjon! (Please write) and írjanak! (Please write, plural), which are used to address someone with greater respect or distance. The felszóló mood can also appear with various verb classes and undergo stem changes or consonant alternations common to Hungarian verbs.

Usage notes emphasize that the felszóló mood carries a direct or forceful tone and may sound abrupt if not softened with polite constructions when appropriate, such as legyene szíves, kérem, or other courteous formulas. It is contrasted with the indicative mood, which states facts, and with other moods such as the conditional.

See also: Hungarian grammar, imperative mood, verb conjugation.