Tétlen

Tétlen is a Hungarian adjective meaning idle or inactive, used to describe a person, a period, or an activity characterized by a lack of action or effort. It can carry neutral, descriptive connotations or a negative sense of laziness or lack of initiative, depending on context. The adverbial form is tétlenül; the related noun tétlenség denotes idleness or inertia. The verb tétlenkedik means to loaf or loiter, often implying a deliberate or prolonged inactivity.

Etymology and related forms: The word is native to Hungarian and forms part of a family of terms built with the adjective suffix -len. Its exact historical development is not widely detailed in general dictionaries, but it is closely connected to the derived forms tétlenkedik and tétlenség, which expand the core concept of inactivity into action or state.

Usage: Tétlen is commonly applied to people who avoid work or effort, or to times and environments marked by a lack of activity. It can appear in descriptive writing, social commentary, or everyday speech. Its tone varies from neutral description to negative judgment, depending on the speaker’s intent and the surrounding context.

Examples: A diákok tétlenül ücsörögtek a padokon. A tétlen időszak nem segítette a csapat fejlődését. A tétlenkedés hosszú távon nehezíti a célok elérését.

See also: tétlenség, tétlenkedik, lusta, inaktív, aktív.