köztudott

Köztudott is a Hungarian adjective meaning well-known or generally known, used to indicate that something is widely understood by the public. It is commonly placed before a clause with the conjunction hogy, as in the formula köztudott, hogy…, meaning “as is well known, that…”. The term can also appear as a noun phrase, for example köztudott tény, meaning a well-known fact, and it can function adverbially in the form köztudottan, meaning “as is well known” or “it is widely known”.

Etymology and form: köztudott is formed from köz- meaning public or common and tudott, the past participle of tudni, “to know.” The compound thus conveys “known by the public.” Related noun is köztudat, meaning public consciousness, and related adjectives include közismert and általánosan ismert, which have a similar sense but different nuances.

Usage and nuance: Köztudott carries a sense of widely accepted or assumed knowledge within a community or audience. It is often used in formal or semi-formal writing, journalism, and speeches. While it signals broad acknowledgment, it does not guarantee universal agreement or empirical certainty, and its appropriateness depends on context and audience. It can carry a rhetorical weight that emphasizes shared background knowledge.

Related terms: közismert (widely known), közvélemény (public opinion), köztudat (public consciousness), köztudomású or köztudomásúan (less common variants expressing public acknowledgement).

See also: köztudat, közismert, köztudomású.