barüüt

Barát is a Hungarian noun meaning "friend." It denotes a person with whom one has a close, trusting relationship and mutual affection. In everyday use, it often refers to a male friend; for a female friend, the standard term is barátnő, though barát can be used generically in informal speech. The word also figures in related terms such as barátság (friendship).

Grammatically barát is masculine. It forms possessive and plural forms such as barátom (my friend), barátod (your friend), barátja (his/her friend), barátunk (our friend), barátotok (your friend), barátuk (their friend). The plural is barátok (friends). Derived terms include baráti (friendly, amicable) and barátság (friendship). Verbs related to friendship include barátkozik (to befriend) and the noun barátkozás (the act of making friends).

Usage and nuance: barát emphasizes personal closeness rather than mere acquaintance (ismerős). In social language, "baráti" describes a friendly or amicable tone or relationship, while "barátság" denotes the concept of friendship itself. Common phrases include "baráti kör" (circle of friends) and "baráti viszony" (friendly relations), which can apply to individuals as well as organizational or international contexts where diplomacy is described as amiable.

Barát also appears in Hungarian culture and literature as a basic element of social life, reflecting the high cultural value placed on loyalty and mutual support among friends. The term is widely understood across dialects and remains a core part of everyday speech in Hungary and among Hungarian-speaking communities.