Tetszés

Tetszés is a Hungarian noun meaning the act or state of being pleasing, typically translated as liking, approval, or favor. It refers to a person’s or a group’s positive response to something or to the general sense of preference or taste. The term can denote a simple personal liking as well as formal approval or consent.

Etymology and form: Tetszés is formed from the verb tetszik, which means “to please” or “to be pleasing,” with the noun-forming suffix -és. Thus, tetszés literally conveys the quality or state of pleasing, i.e., the thing that pleases or the approval it receives. It is used in both everyday and more formal or literary Hungarian.

Usage and phrases: In ordinary language, tetszés can refer to someone’s liking or favor toward a person, idea, or object. A common idiom is tetszés szerint, meaning “as one pleases” or “to one’s liking,” such as a choice made according to personal preference or discretion. The expression can also appear in phrases like valakinek a tetszése, referring to someone’s approval or favor toward someone or something. In formal or historical contexts, tetszés may appear in discussions of taste, aesthetics, or official approval.

Relationship to related terms: Tetszés is related to tetszik (to please) and to words for taste and preference, such as ízlés (taste) and kedv (favor or inclination). While tetszés emphasizes approval or liking, ízlés more specifically concerns aesthetic sense or personal style.

See also: tetszik, ízlés, kedv, tetszés szerint, approval language in Hungarian.