egész

"Egész" is a Hungarian word primarily used as an adjective meaning "whole," "entire," or "full." It is related to the noun "egészség," which means "health," reflecting the idea of a wholistic state or completeness. The term originates from the Old Hungarian egész, formed from egesz (unbroken) plus the suffix -sz, with cognates in other Uralic languages such as Estonian kogu and Finnish koko, all conveying the sense of entirety.

In modern Hungarian, "egész" is most commonly used in idiomatic expressions. For example, az egész nap ("all day") and az egész napos ("the whole day") show how it can modify temporal or spatial categories to indicate totality. It can also be used figuratively: életét teljes egészébe ("into all aspects of his life"), emphasizing completeness. While teljes is a close synonym meaning "complete," egész carries a slightly more encompassing feel, especially when referring to physical wholes (e.g., az egész csempe "the entire tile") rather than abstract completeness.

The adjective can also appear as a noun in phrases like az egészség ("health") or az egészségügyi ("health-related"). In palatalized contexts, egész may appear as egészet or egészségű in compound adjectives. In poetry and folklore, "egész" often juxtaposes with rész ("part") to emphasize the contrast between whole and fragment.

In summary, "egész" functions as a versatile term denoting wholeness, totality, and comprehensive states, both literally and figuratively, and it remains a fundamental component of everyday Hungarian vocabulary.