Isten

Isten is the Hungarian word for God, used to denote the supreme being in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic contexts as understood within Hungary. It functions as a proper noun and is typically capitalized when referring to the singular deity. The term appears in everyday prayer and liturgy, as well as in religious literature, hymns, and translations of biblical texts. Common phrases include “Istennek legyen hála” (thanks be to God) and “Istenem” (my God). In more formal or scholarly writing, Isten is treated as the name of the specific divine being, distinguishing it from generic references to deities.

Historical and cultural context: The Hungarian term Isten became established through the Christianization of the region in the medieval period, aligning Hungarian religious language with broader Christian theology. Prior to Christianization, Hungary hosted a variety of local beliefs and spirits, but the contemporary usage of Isten reflects monotheistic conceptions associated with Christianity, and to some extent Judaism and Islam, within Hungarian discourse. The word remains central in religious practice, literature, education, and public life, appearing in prayers, sermons, translations of religious texts, and everyday speech. Beyond religious contexts, Isten also appears in idiomatic expressions and cultural works, where references to faith or divine presence are invoked.