Vigyázat

Vigyázat is a Hungarian noun and interjection that means caution, warning, or attention. It is used to alert someone to danger or risk and is often issued as a short stand-alone warning, especially on signs or in spoken warnings, as in “Vigyázat! Nedves a padló.” In everyday language it can also be translated as “Watch out!” or “Be careful!” The word is common in safety communications, product warnings, and public notices, where it signals the need for careful action.

Etymology and form: Vigyázat is derived from the verb vigyázni, “to take care, to beware,” plus the nominal suffix -at, yielding the notion of the act or state of caution. The related verb vigyáz and the imperative vigyázz are used to directly tell someone to be careful.

Nuances and related terms: Figyelem, meaning “Attention,” is a related but slightly more formal term used in announcements and instructions. Vigyázat tends to convey immediate risk and is more common in warnings intended for a general audience.

Usage notes: In written Hungarian vigyázat is typically capitalized at the start of a sentence or used as a stand-alone exclamation, such as on signs: “Vigyázat! Csúszós padló.” It can also appear in phrases like “Vigyázat a lépéssel,” though more common forms reserve the expression for solitary warnings.

See also: figyelem; óvatosság; veszély.