Repülképtelen

Repülképtelen is an adjective in Hungarian used to describe something that cannot fly. In standard Hungarian, the more common form is repülésképtelen, formed from repülés (flight) and képtelen (unable). The variant repülképtelen appears less frequently and is generally regarded as nonstandard, a regional or stylistic variant, or a misspelling in some texts.

Etymology and form: The preferred construction for the property of not being able to fly is repülésképtelen. It explicitly groups flight as the root concept (repülés) with the negation of ability (képtelen). The form repülképtelen, while understandable, is not the normative spelling in most dictionaries and formal writing, though it may appear in poetry or informal writing.

Usage in biology: The term describes flightless animals, especially birds. In zoological contexts, flightless species are typically discussed with repülésképtelen mászók nélkül a repülés kiiktatásával, i.e., creatures adapted to life without flight. Well-known examples include penguins, kiwis, ostriches, emus, and cassowaries. These species often exhibit reduced wings, stronger legs, and other morphological changes associated with a terrestrial lifestyle and the energetic trade-offs of flight loss.

Evolutionary context: Flightlessness has evolved independently in multiple lineages, often in environments with few aerial predators or where ground-based foraging and energy efficiency confer advantages. Island ecosystems frequently show such trends, as do certain open habitats with abundant food and limited need for long-distance flight.

Metaphorical use: Beyond biology, repülképtelen can be used figuratively to describe plans, projects, or technologies that are unable to progress toward aerial or rapid expansion, due to constraints or design choices.