Kapcsolat

Kapcsolat is a Hungarian noun meaning connection, contact, or relationship. It describes the state of being linked as well as the link itself between objects, people, or ideas. In everyday use, it covers social relationships (such as family or friendship), professional ties (business relationships), and general connections in systems and technologies (for example, internet or electrical connections). In mathematics and logic, a relation between elements is also referred to as a kapcsolat.

The word is formed from the verb kapcsolni, to connect, with the nominal suffix -at. Related forms include kapcsolatok (plural), kapcsolódás (the act or process of joining), and kapcsoló (switch). Common compounds include kapcsolatfelvétel (initiating contact), kapcsolati háló (network of connections), and gazdasági kapcsolatok (economic or trade relations).

Usage notes: Kapcsolat is often contrasted with viszony, which more broadly denotes a status or condition of a relationship, while összeköttetés or összekapcsolás can emphasize direct interconnection. In contemporary language, kapcsolatok appear in media and discourse about diplomacy, commerce, and personal life, as well as in technical contexts describing network connectivity.

See also terms such as kapcsolódás, meaning the act of joining, and kapcsoló, meaning a switch or device that enables connection. Kapcsolat remains a versatile term across social, technical, and abstract domains, reflecting the various ways things and people can be linked.