Túlzó

Túlzó is a Hungarian adjective meaning exaggerated or overstated. It is formed from the prefix túl- (“over”) and the noun túlzás (“exaggeration”) with the suffix -ó, yielding a descriptive term used for statements, claims, descriptions, or actions that go beyond what is accurate or reasonable.

The word is commonly used attributively before nouns, for example: túlzó nyilatkozat (exaggerated statement), túlzó állítás (exaggerated claim), and túlzó ígéret (overpromising). The related past participle adjective túlzott is also widely used to indicate that something has already been exaggerated, as in túlzott számadatok (exaggerated figures). In some contexts, the adverb formed from the same root is túlzottan, though more natural equivalents such as túlságosan can be preferred to express excessive degree.

Usage notes: túlzó often carries a critical or evaluative tone, signaling that the speaker regards the described phenomenon as not credible or unduly dramatic. It appears across journalism, critique, and everyday language to point to overstatements or distortions in argumentation, media reporting, or rhetoric.

Etymology: the term derives from the Hungarian prefix túl- (“over”) combined with the noun túlzás (“exaggeration”), with the -ó suffix common to present participle adjectives. The word has been part of standard Hungarian for general descriptive use since the 19th century.