kövér

Kövér is a Hungarian adjective meaning “fat” or “thick.” It describes something with substantial mass or density, most commonly a person or an object. When applied to people, it denotes excess body fat or a bulky build, while with objects it can indicate considerable thickness or heft, such as a dense or bulky item. In medical or health contexts, the related noun kövérség is used to refer to obesity.

The word forms in the standard degree system: kövér (base form), kövérebb (comparative), legkövérebb (superlative). It combines with nouns in phrases such as kövér ember (a fat person), kövér test (a bulky body), or kövér kenyér (a dense or hearty bread). In everyday language, kövér can carry pejorative or sensitive connotations when describing people, so more neutral or clinical terms are often preferred in health discussions.

In addition to its primary sense, kövér is also used in typography and computing to describe bold or thick typefaces, referred to as kövér betű (bold text).

Etymology traces kövér to native Hungarian roots relating to fullness or thickness; the precise historical development is a matter of linguistic scholarship. The term remains common in standard Hungarian, with usage varying in formality and cultural context.

See also: obesity, body image, typography.