csöves

Csöves is a colloquial Hungarian term for a homeless person or vagrant. It is widely understood in Hungary and used in everyday speech as well as in some media. The word is informal and can carry pejorative connotations, with contexts ranging from neutral description to stigmatizing. In neutral or official language, hajléktalan is typically used as the standard term for a homeless person.

Etymology of csöves is uncertain. One commonly cited explanation links the word to cső, meaning pipe, reflecting historical associations with living rough in pipes, tunnels, underpasses, or other street spaces. However, other origins have been proposed, and there is no definitive consensus.

Usage and perception vary across contexts. Some discussions emphasize vulnerability and the need for social support, while others rely on stereotypes or sensationalist framing. The term’s acceptability depends on tone, setting, and the speaker’s intent.

In Hungary, homelessness is addressed by public social services and non-governmental organizations. Measures include shelters, emergency accommodation, outreach work, and long-term housing and social support programs aimed at improving health, employment prospects, and housing stability. Homelessness is connected to broader structural factors such as unemployment, housing affordability, poverty, and social marginalization, and it remains a persistent subject of policy debate and public discourse.

In culture, csöves appears in informal dialogue, journalism, and works depicting urban life and social issues in Hungary. Some institutions and writers prefer Hajléktalan in formal contexts to avoid stigmatization.