Koszos

Koszos is a Hungarian adjective that means dirty or filthy. It describes something covered in dirt, grime, or dust, and it can also be used metaphorically to indicate moral taint, corruption, or questionable motives. The term is common in everyday speech, journalism, and literature, and it can characterize objects, environments, actions, or people.

Etymology and form: Koszos is formed from the noun kosz, meaning dirt or filth, with the suffix -os that creates adjectives indicating a state or quality. This a common productive pattern in Hungarian, yielding many words that describe the presence of dirt or a related condition.

Usage and nuance: Literally, koszos modifies nouns such as ruha (clothes), út (path), üveg (glass), or víz (water) to indicate dirty conditions: koszos ruha, koszos víz, koszos ablak. Metaphorically, it can refer to morally tainted situations or persons, e.g., koszos üzlet (a dirty business) or koszos pénz (dirty money). The term can carry strong connotations of uncleanliness and disrepute, but in everyday language it often appears in a somewhat colloquial register.

Related terms and antonyms: Synonyms include piszkos or mocskos, which carry similar meanings with varying degrees of severity. The opposite concept is tiszta (clean) or tisztátlan (unclean), with nuances depending on context. Koszos remains a versatile descriptor in both literal and figurative usage.

See also: Hungarian vocabulary related to cleanliness and moral evaluation, including kosz, piszkos, and tiszta.