Száraz

Száraz is a Hungarian adjective meaning dry or arid, used to describe weather, materials, or conditions, as well as more figurative senses. Common examples include száraz idő (dry weather), száraz talaj (dry soil), and száraz fa (dry wood). In culinary and beverage contexts, száraz can describe wine with little or no residual sugar, i.e., száraz bor, in contrast to édes (sweet) or félédes (semi-dry).

Etymology and grammar: The word derives from a root related to drying, connected to the verb szárad (to dry) and the noun szárazság (dryness). In Hungarian, száraz is an invariable adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies and can form comparative and superlative forms such as szárazabb and legszárazabb. It occurs in compounds and set phrases like száraz időjárás (dry climate) or száraz éghajlat (arid climate).

Uses and nuance: Száraz can describe physical dryness and moisture deficiency, but it also carries figurative meanings, such as dry humor or dry, factual reporting, where emotion or embellishment is minimal. The term is widely used in everyday language, science, meteorology, agriculture, and cuisine.

As a surname: Száraz is also a Hungarian surname derived from the same root as the adjective. It is found among people of Hungarian descent and appears in historical and contemporary records.

See also: dryness; aridity; dry (in wine terminology).