Való

Való is a Hungarian word that functions mainly as the root for a family of terms related to truth, reality, and authenticity. In modern usage, the form is rarely encountered as a stand-alone word in everyday speech and is more commonly found in literary, historical, or archaic contexts, where it serves as the base for derived forms such as valódi, valóság, and valóban.

Etymology and related forms: Való belongs to the native Hungarian lexicon and is the source from which several important words in the val- series are built. The related adjectives and nouns—valódi (real, genuine), valóság (reality), and the adverb valóban (indeed, truly)—share the same semantic core of truth and actuality. These derivatives are widely used in contemporary Hungarian, while való itself appears primarily in older texts or as a linguistic reference rather than in everyday speech.

Usage and context: In current Hungarian, standalone való is uncommon outside of specialized or historical contexts. It is often encountered in discussions of language history, dialectal forms, or within poems and prose that aim to evoke older or more formal language. The broader semantic field associated with való encompasses authenticity, veracity, and existence, which is reflected in its derivative forms.

See also: Hungarian language; valóság; valódi; valóban.