Tölteni

Tölteni is a Hungarian verb meaning to fill or to stuff. It is used in a wide range of contexts, from everyday actions to culinary terms. In cooking, it describes filling a hollow or container with a mixture, such as meat, rice, or vegetables, with töltött paprika (stuffed peppers) and töltött káposzta (stuffed cabbage) being well-known examples.

Etymology and related forms: The word derives from the root töltr- with the infinitive suffix -ni. Related nouns include töltés (a filling or charge) and töltelék (stuffing). The past participle töltött forms adjectives used in dish names and descriptions (for example, töltött hús, töltött tojás). The verb also participates in compound forms with prefixes, such as feltölteni, meaning to fill up or recharge, and but also in other senses to replenish or top up.

Usage notes: Tölteni is transitive and typically takes a direct object when indicating what is being filled, for example, vizet töltök a pohárba (I fill the glass with water). It can combine with prefixes to create related meanings, such as feltölteni (to fill up, to recharge) or töltet, which refers to the stuffing or filling itself in some contexts. The noun töltés denotes the act of filling or the amount filled, while töltő can refer to a filler or charger depending on context.

Cultural context: Beyond general use, töltési concepts are central to several traditional Hungarian dishes known by the name töltött, where a filling is placed into peppers, cabbage leaves, dumplings, or pastries. The term also appears in everyday language to describe filling containers, forms, or other spaces.

See also: töltés, töltelék, töltő, töltött paprika, töltött káposzta.