közmondat

A közmondat, in Hungarian usage, refers to a traditional short saying that expresses a general truth, practical rule, or moral lesson. It is a form of folk wisdom that has been transmitted across generations and often appears in everyday speech, folklore, and literature. The term is closely related to other labels such as közmondás, mondás, or szállóige, with slight stylistic or contextual nuances: szállóige typically denotes a widely known line or saying drawn from culture or literature.

Characteristics and form

Közmondatok are typically concise and memorable, frequently employing metaphor, imagery, or parallel structure. They may use rhyme or alliteration to enhance recall and rhetorical impact. The content tends to address universal human experiences, social behavior, or common sense, and their validity is often accepted culturally rather than scientifically proven. Many közmondatok allow regional or dialectal variations, reflecting the diversity of Hungarian linguistic and cultural communities.

Function and usage

Közmondatok serve as didactic or persuasive tools in speech and writing, offering guidance, warnings, or social norms in a compact form. They appear in conversations, education, journalism, and literature, where they can illustrate a point or evoke cultural resonance. They are also used to evoke shared identity or tradition, sometimes employing irony or humor when applied to contemporary situations.

Relation to related terms

While closely related to közmondás and szállóige, a közmondat is a broader term for a traditional, commonly known saying. A szállóige often carries the sense of a proverb that has become part of the common cultural repertoire, sometimes with literary origins, whereas közmondat emphasizes the oral and folk-wisdom aspect.

Example

A well-known example is “Kicsi a bors, de erős,” illustrating that small size does not preclude strength.