Illatos

Illatos is a Hungarian adjective meaning fragrant or aromatic. It describes something that emits a pleasant smell or has a noticeable, agreeable odor. The word is formed from the noun illat, meaning smell or fragrance, with the suffix -os to indicate a characteristic, producing illatos meaning “fragrant.” The corresponding adverb is illatosan, used to describe the manner in which something smells or is perceived as fragrant.

Usage and nuances

Illatos is commonly applied to flowers, foods, perfumes, and environments to convey a positive scent. Examples include illatos virágok (fragrant flowers), illatos olaj (fragrant oil), and illatos konyha (fragrant kitchen). It can describe both tangible scents and atmospheres associated with pleasant odors. The term fits both literal smells and figurative expressions, such as memories or moments that carry a pleasant connotation.

Grammar and related forms

In terms of comparison, Hungarian allows illatosabb for “more fragrant” and legillatosabb for “most fragrant.” The word has antonyms describing the absence or negativity of scent, such as szagtalan (odorless) or illatmentes. Related terms include illat (noun: smell/fragrance) and parfüm, a borrowed word for perfume. Illatos is used across literary, culinary, and everyday contexts to convey a favorable scent without implying any specific source.

See also

Illat, szag, illatszer, parfüm.