jelként

Jelként is a Hungarian adverbial form derived from the noun jel, meaning sign or signal. It expresses the role, function, or capacity of something, roughly translating as “as a sign” or “in the capacity of a sign.” The suffix -ként attaches to a noun to form a construction that denotes how the referent functions or is interpreted, and it is commonly used with verbs to indicate this function.

Usage in sentences typically pairs jelként with verbs such as szolgál (to serve), értelmezhető (can be interpreted), or használ (to be used). For example: A piros fény jelként szolgál a közeledő járművek számára. (The red light serves as a signal for approaching vehicles.) A felirat jelként értelmezhető a térkép használója számára. (The inscription can be interpreted as a sign for the map user.)

Jelként is widely used in technical, navigational, and descriptive language to denote the function or symbolic role of objects, signs, or indicators. It helps clarify that a feature is being considered not as an ordinary object but in the capacity of a sign or signal within a system of signs.

Related concepts include jelzés (signal, indication) and jelölés (labeling, notation), which describe signs or indicators in different linguistic or practical contexts. Jelként provides a compact grammatical means to express role-based attribution inside a sentence without resorting to longer phrases.