Kárókatonák

Kárókatonák is a Hungarian term that translates to "playing cards" in English. It refers to the four suits found in a standard deck of playing cards: acorns (makk), leaves (levél), hearts (szív), and bells (tök). These suits are traditional in many Central European card games, particularly those played with a 32-card or 54-card deck.

The acorns suit is often depicted as a green, acorn-shaped symbol. Leaves are typically represented by green, pointed leaves. Hearts are a stylized red heart shape, and bells are usually shown as yellow or gold bell-shaped figures. The specific design and color of these suit symbols can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer and the particular deck of cards.

Kárókatonák are central to many Hungarian card games. For example, in Zsírozás, a popular trick-taking game, the suits have specific rankings and values. The term itself is a compound word, with "káró" meaning diamond (though this is not one of the four traditional suits in this context) and "katonák" meaning soldiers. The origin of this specific terminology for the suits is not definitively known but is deeply ingrained in Hungarian card-playing culture. Understanding these suits is essential for playing and understanding numerous Hungarian card games.