fátyol

Fátyol is a Hungarian noun that means veil. It describes a thin, translucent layer that covers or obscures something, giving a soft, veiled appearance. The term can refer to a physical veil-like covering, such as a light fog or mist that veils the landscape, as well as to figurative coverings, such as a veil of secrecy or a vague, delicate mood in art and conversation.

Etymology and usage notes: Fátyol is a native Hungarian word. Its exact historical origin within the language is not widely documented in accessible sources, but it has long been part of Hungarian vocabulary and imagery. The word is used both in literal descriptions of weather and in metaphorical contexts to evoke gentleness, mystery, or concealment.

In daily language, fátyol often appears in phrases describing weather or light. For example, a morning can be described as fátyolos idő (veiled or hazy weather), and a scene or photograph might be described as having fátyolos fény (veiled, soft light). In literature and poetry, the word conveys mood and atmosphere, suggesting softness, ambiguity, or a subtle barrier between observer and subject.

See also: fog, haze, veil, veiled light. Fátyol remains a concise and evocative term in Hungarian for both natural phenomena and expressive writing, capturing the idea of a delicate, semi-transparent cover over reality.