Olvasó

Olvasó is a Hungarian noun derived from the verb olvas, meaning to read, with the suffix -ó that forms agents or instruments. The primary sense is “a person who reads,” i.e., a reader. In this sense, olvasó can refer to any individual who reads, from a general audience to a specific reader mentioned in a text, for example az olvasó közönség (the reading public).

A secondary sense, common in technical and everyday language, is an instrument or device that reads information. In this usage, olvasó appears in compound forms such as vonalkód-olvasó (barcode reader), CD-olvasó or DVD-olvasó (CD or DVD drive), and optikai olvasó (optical reader). In the context of digital media, e-book readers are often described as olvasók or olvasóeszközök, referring to devices designed for reading electronic texts.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines olvas (to read) with the agent-noun suffix -ó, a productive formation in Hungarian. The intended meaning—person or device that reads—depends on context. In everyday speech, the human sense is most common, while the device sense is frequent in technology, publishing, and retail terminology.

In summary, olvasó is a versatile Hungarian term that denotes either a reader (the person who reads) or a reader device used to interpret written or encoded information. The exact meaning is determined by surrounding words and the domain of discourse.