Válogatás

Válogatás is a Hungarian noun meaning the act of selecting from a larger group and the product of this act—a collection assembled by choosing representative items. The verb válogatni means to choose, sort, or filter, and válogatás denotes the process or the resulting set. The term is used in everyday language to indicate both the act of selection and the resulting assortment or compilation.

In culture and media, válogatás frequently denotes a curated collection. A válogatás can be an anthology of literary works, an album or lemez that gathers tracks from different artists, or a magazine or book section that presents a selection of articles. In music industry contexts, válogatáslemez refers specifically to compilation albums intended to showcase a theme, era, or an artist’s breadth rather than a single release.

Etymology: válogatás derives from válogatni, with the nominalizing suffix -ás. Related terms include kiválogatás (selection out, emphasizing removal from a larger pool) and válogatott (selected, curated), used as adjectives.

In contemporary usage válogatás can denote both a process and a product across fields such as literature, music, and media. It implies intentional curation rather than random gathering.