csipeget

Csipeget is a Hungarian verb meaning to nibble or to pick at food, typically by taking small bites rather than consuming a whole portion. It can describe both people and animals and is commonly used in informal speech to convey little, repetitive eating or grazing. The action is often associated with passing time before a main course or with casual snacking during work or conversation.

The related noun csipegetés denotes the act of nibbling, while csipegető can refer to a person who nibbles. As an imperfective verb, csipeget emphasizes ongoing or repeated action rather than a single, completed bite. In sentences, it can describe both literal eating and metaphorical sampling, such as “csipeget a kenyeret” (nibbling at the bread) or “csipegethetünk néhány ötletet” (we can nibble a few ideas).

In broader usage, csipeget is sometimes employed metaphorically to describe partial engagement with tasks, opportunities, or choices—favoring small, tentative explorations over full commitment. The term is primarily found within Hungarian-language contexts and is more common in casual speech, with regional variations appearing in Hungary and among Hungarian-speaking communities.

See also: nibble, snack, sample.