elnézés

Elnézés is a Hungarian noun that primarily denotes a brief, momentary act of looking or a quick glance at something or someone. In everyday speech the word is more often encountered in its related but more common form elnézést, used in apologies such as “Elnézést kérek.” In this apologetic context, elnézés functions as part of a fixed expression meaning “excuse me” or “sorry,” rather than as a neutral description of looking.

Etymology and sense development: Elnézés is built from the verb néz, meaning “to look,” with the prefix el-, which can indicate completion, turning away, or a momentary action. The combined sense suggests a turning of the eyes for a brief moment—hence a quick glance. Over time, the word came to be used in the linguistic family as both a concrete description of a fleeting look and, in its related forms, as part of polite human interaction.

Usage and nuance: The most common appearance of the concept in modern Hungarian is through the imperative/apologetic phrases Elnézést! or Elnézést kérek. In those expressions elnézés is not always treated as a standalone noun; instead, the phrase as a whole conveys the act of apologizing or seeking pardon. When used in prose or descriptive writing, elnézés can appear with the meaning “a quick look,” typically in contexts describing visual attention or fleeting observation.

Related terms: nézés (the act of looking or viewing), nézni (to look), elnéz (to overlook or to spare, depending on context). The pair of senses—brief visual act versus apology—reflects the Hedera prefix el- plus the base néz.

See also: Hungarian verbs of gaze; polite expressions in Hungarian courtesy; linguistic notes on prefix el- in verb formation.