Utód

Utód is a Hungarian noun meaning descendant or offspring. It denotes a person who is descended from an ancestor, or one who continues a lineage. The term is neutral and widely used in genealogical, biographical, and historical writing, as well as in everyday speech. In addition to individuals, utód can be used in a broader sense to refer to future generations or successors within a family, organization, or institution.

In legal language, utód can imply a person who succeeds another, but it does not automatically confer inheritance rights. For inheritance law, the standard term is örökös (heir). Thus, while an utód may be a successor in a family or corporate sense, an örökös is the person entitled to a deceased relative’s estate under the law.

Grammatical notes: utód is a masculine noun; plural utódok. The word follows standard Hungarian noun declension, with forms such as utódjának (of his/her descendant) and utódja (his/her descendant). Common collocations include közvetlen utód (direct descendant) and utódja (his/her offspring).

In biology and everyday language, utód refers to the offspring of organisms, emphasizing lineage and heredity rather than legal rights. In historical contexts, utód is used when discussing dynastic lines and succession planning, focusing on descent and continuity across generations.

See also: örökös, utódok, utódlás.