Feszült

Feszült is a Hungarian word that functions as both a verb form and an adjective, meaning “tense,” “taut,” or “stressed.” It is the finite verb form of the verb feszül (to tense, to become taut) and can also describe a state or condition, used as an attributive participle in phrases such as feszült hangulat. The term appears in literal contexts, referring to physical tension, and in figurative ones, describing emotional or atmospheric strain.

In usage, feszült describes objects that are stretched tight, for example a rope or wire when it is pulled taut. It also characterizes situations or people under pressure: a feszült hangulat denotes a tense atmosphere, and feszült idegek refers to nerves that are on edge. The expression is common in everyday Hungarian and in writing to convey immediacy and intensity without specifying the mechanism of tension.

Etymology and related terms place feszült within a family of words derived from the root fesz-, meaning to stretch or tighten. Related concepts include feszítés (tension, act of stretching) and feszültség (tension or stress, including electrical tension). While feszült often describes a resulting state, other forms such as feszített emphasize the action that creates tension (something is being stretched). The nuance between these forms helps distinguish the cause of tension from its outcome.

Overall, feszült is a versatile term in Hungarian for noting physical tautness and figurative unease, used across everyday language and various registers.