bojár

Bojár is a Hungarian term that historically denotes a boyar, a member of the feudal aristocracy in Russia and other Slavic states. In modern Hungarian usage, bojár also functions as a surname and, more rarely, as a masculine given name. The word is most often encountered in historical contexts or in family names, and it may appear without the diacritic in non-Hungarian texts.

Etymology and usage: The form bojár derives from the Slavic title boyar and entered Hungarian through long-standing cultural contact with East Slavic regions. The diacritic over the a marks a quality of vowel length in Hungarian orthography, and the word is typically pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable. In contemporary contexts, its primary role is as a surname, with restricted use as a given name.

Variants and distribution: As a surname, bojár is found among Hungarian families and can appear in historical records related to Hungarian genealogy or literature. In non-Hungarian contexts, the name may be rendered as Bojar, lacking the Hungarian diacritic, which can affect pronunciation and recognition.

See also: Boyar, the Slavic noble class from which the Hungarian term borrows; related linguistic forms in other languages that adapted the title.