mentális

Mentális is a Hungarian adjective meaning "related to the mind" or "cognitive." It is used to describe mental processes, capacities, conditions, and phenomena, and appears in compounds such as mentális egészség (mental health), mentális képességek (mental abilities), mentális állapot (mental state), and mentális folyamatok (mental processes). The term is widely used in education, psychology, medicine, sports, and public discourse.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin mentalis, via European languages, and is now a standard loanword in Hungarian. It complements or sometimes replaces more traditional terms such as pszichikai or lelki in contemporary contexts, though nuance differs: mentális often signals cognitive aspects, while pszichés covers broader psychological or emotional dimensions, and lelki tends to carry cultural or spiritual overtones.

In practice, mentális appears in discussions of mental training (mentális tréning), cognitive assessments, and overall mental health. It features in clinical language (mentális zavar, mentális betegség) as well as everyday talk. Despite being a loanword, it is well established in standard Hungarian and widely understood across age groups, though precise meaning depends on context.