Pánik

Pánik is a Hungarian noun meaning panic or a sudden, intense fear. It denotes a rapid onset of fear that may be disproportionate to the situation and is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, and a sense of losing control. In everyday language, pánik can describe moments of alarm or urgency, as in pánik tört ki (panic broke out).

Etymology: The term pánik is a loanword from the international word panic, which in turn traces back to ancient Greek and Latin terms for fear associated with the god Pan. In Hungarian phonology the word was adapted with an acute accent on the a, and it is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable.

Clinical usage: In medical contexts, pánikroham refers to a panic attack—an abrupt surge of intense fear that peaks within minutes and is accompanied by symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a fear of losing control or dying. Recurrent attacks may lead to pánikbetegség (panic disorder), characterized by persistent worry about future attacks and avoidance behaviors. Treatment typically includes cognitive-behavioral therapy and, when appropriate, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines for short-term relief under medical supervision.

The term pánik therefore covers both everyday language and clinical concepts in Hungarian, reflecting its use in describing both ordinary episodes of fear and more persistent anxiety-related conditions.