Szószóval

Szószóval is a Hungarian word that functions as an interjection or a discourse marker. Its primary meaning translates to "in short," "in brief," or "to make a long story short." It is used to signal that the speaker is about to summarize a preceding explanation, narrative, or a series of events. The purpose of using szószóval is to condense information and get to the main point more quickly, often implying that the preceding details were extensive or perhaps less important than the conclusion.

The word itself is formed by reduplication, a common linguistic process. The root word is "szó," meaning "word." The reduplication of "szó" to "szószó" creates a sense of multiplicity or repetition, which in this context suggests a multitude of words or a lengthy discourse. The addition of the "-val" suffix, a Hungarian instrumental case ending, further modifies its grammatical function, although in its interjectional use, it operates much like a standalone phrase.

Szószóval can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though its use is more prevalent in everyday conversation. It acts as a conversational tool to manage the flow of dialogue, allowing speakers to transition smoothly from a detailed account to a concise summary. For example, someone might recount a complicated series of problems they encountered, and then conclude with, "Szószóval, nem tudtam eljönni." (In short, I couldn't come.) This signals to the listener that the detailed explanation has concluded and the essential outcome is being presented.