horvát

Horvát is a term whose meaning varies by language. In Hungarian, horvát is the common noun and adjective for Croatia and Croats, used in phrases such as horvát nyelv (the Croatian language) and Horvátország (Croatia). In other contexts, the native Croatian ethnonym is Hrvat, not Horvát, with Horvát appearing mainly as a non-Croatian form in Hungarian or related languages. The root of these terms goes back to the medieval South Slavic ethnonym Hrvat, associated with the Croat people.

Horvat is a widespread surname in Croatia, Slovenia, and among Croat communities in the Central European diaspora. It is one of the most common family names in Croatia, often reflecting ancestral ties to Croat origin. The Hungarian variant Horváth is closely related and widely used in Hungary and among Hungarian-speaking communities. Related surnames include Horvat, Horváth, and other transliterations.

Beyond its use as a surname, Horvat appears in historical and contemporary records as a family name for many individuals in public life, including in politics, sports, and the arts. The term is primarily linguistic in use, with no single defining event associated with it.