kívánata

Kívánat is a Hungarian noun meaning desire, wish, or longing. It denotes an inner impulse or mental leaning toward a person, action, or outcome. The form kívánata is the possessive construction meaning “the desire of someone” and is used to attribute the wish to a subject, as in az elnök kívánata (the president’s wish). The root is the verb kívánni, which means to desire or to wish.

In Hungarian, kívánat is typically differentiated from other related terms. Vágy conveys stronger longing or craving, often for something specific, while kívánság refers more to a wish or polite desire, sometimes directed toward an outcome or event. Kívánat tends to carry a somewhat formal or literary tone, and is common in official, legal, or narrative contexts when describing a person’s or group’s wishes.

Etymology generally traces kívánat to the verb kívánni, with the nominalizing suffix -at forming an abstract noun signifying the act or state of desiring. The possessive form kívánata allows attribution of the wish to a subject, e.g., a leader’s or organization’s desire.

Usage notes: kívánat appears most often in formal prose, administrative language, or literary writing. In everyday speech, speakers more commonly use kívánság or vágy to express wishes or desires. The noun can be pluralized or combined in phrases to convey the scope or source of a desire.

See also: kívánni, kívánság, vágy, desire in Hungarian literature.