Nyaló

Nyaló is a Hungarian noun derived from the verb nyalni, meaning to lick. In its broad sense, nyaló denotes a person or thing that licks, effectively translating to “a sucker.” In everyday standard Hungarian, however, the candy on a stick is normally called nyalóka; nyaló is more commonly found in older texts, regional speech, or as part of compound terms and brand names.

Etymology and sense history reflect the link to licking. The form nyaló is formed with the agent noun suffix -ó attached to nyalni, producing a word that historically can refer to someone who licks or to objects associated with licking. Over time, usage shifted in contemporary language, and nyaló became less common as a standalone term for candy, though it may still appear in literature or marketing as an allusive or affectionate form.

Variants and related terms include nyalóka (the standard diminutive for a lollipop) and other compound expressions where nyaló appears with additional elements. In modern practice, nyaló is largely a historical or regional relic rather than a regularly used everyday term.

See also: nyalóka, nyalni, Hungarian lexicon on confectionery terms.

References to nyaló in sources today are typically found in historical texts, dialect investigations, or brand names that evoke sweetness or licking.