Túlozni

Túlozni is a Hungarian verb meaning to exaggerate or overstate something beyond its actual truth or importance. It is used to describe making people, events, risks, or claims seem bigger, more dramatic, or more significant than they really are. The term appears in everyday speech as well as in journalism, advertising, and political discourse, and it can convey a critical or satirical tone when someone is accused of distortion.

Formation and usage: The word is built with the prefix túl- meaning over or beyond, and the infinitive form ends in -ni. The verb is transitive, so it commonly takes a direct object. Typical conjugation in the present tense is: én túlozom, te túlozol, ő túloz, mi túlozunk, ti túloztok, ők túloznak. The past tense forms are: én túloztam, te túloztál, ő túlozott, mi túloztunk, ti túloztatok, ők túloztak. Imperative forms include túlozz! and túlozzatok! Nouns related to the act of exaggerating include túlzás (exaggeration, overstatement) and occasionally túlozás (the act of exaggerating).

Examples: "Ne túlozd el a dolgot." (Don’t exaggerate the thing.) "A beszéd túlozza a kockázatokat." (The speech exaggerates the risks.) "Gyakran túloznak a politikusok." (Politicians often exaggerate.)

Nuance: Túlozni covers a range from mild overstatement to deliberate distortion, depending on context, intention, and tone. It is common in critical commentary as a label for false or inflated claims, but can also describe playful or ironic rhetoric in informal speech.