hivatás

Hivatás is a Hungarian noun with two main senses. In everyday language it denotes a person’s occupation or profession—the work a person does for a living. It can also refer to a calling or mission, a sense of purpose tied to one’s work, often implying that the work aligns with one’s values or talents.

Historically and in religious contexts, hivatás has referred to a calling from a higher order, notably priesthood or religious life. In modern usage, the term remains associated with personal motivation and suitability for a given line of work, not merely with employment. The distinction between a vocation and a simple job is common in both private discussion and public discourse.

Etymology: the word derives from a root related to calling and a suffix that forms a noun indicating the act or state. It is related to other Hungarian terms such as hívás (call) and hivat, though the exact historical development is complex.

Usage and synonyms: hivatás is distinguished from foglalkozás (occupation) or pálya (career path). The adjective hivatásos describes someone who acts as a professional, for example hivatásos sportoló. In everyday language, phrases such as “hivatásának megfelelő” highlight alignment with one’s vocation; “munkája a hivatása” emphasizes work as a calling. Career guidance in Hungary often discusses whether a person’s talents and interests match their hivatás.