Szegény

Szegény is a Hungarian adjective meaning poor in the sense of lacking money or resources, and by extension needy or pitiful. It is used to describe people, families, situations, or things that have little means or are unfortunate. Common phrases include szegény család (a poor family), szegény ember (a poor man), and szegény gyerek (a poor child). It can also express sympathy, as in an exclamation like Szegény! meaning “Poor thing.”

Grammatical notes: szegény agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case, and can appear predicatively after a linking verb, for example, A család szegény. The word can function as a noun as well, with the plural szegények referring to “the poor.” Comparative and superlative forms exist: szegényebb (poorer) and legszegényebb (poorest). In everyday speech, használatában the connotation ranges from neutral description to mild pity or criticism, depending on context.

Etymology and usage context: the word szegény is of native Hungarian origin with an uncertain precise etymology, but it has long been part of the language. It is widely used in both formal and informal registers, as well as in literature and media, often in contrast to words like gazdag (rich) or szerencsétlen (unlucky, unfortunate). It is distinct from terms that emphasize moral judgment, focusing primarily on material deprivation or hardship.

Translations and related terms: in English, szegény is commonly rendered as “poor” or “needy,” and occasionally as “poor thing” in exclamative use. Related concepts include szomorú (sad) and koldus (beggar), which carry different nuances of need or hardship.