mosó

Mosó is a Hungarian word with several related meanings centered on washing. It is derived from the verb mosni, meaning “to wash,” and the agentive suffix -ó, which forms nouns and adjectives.

As a noun, mosó can refer to a person who washes clothes (a laundress) or to a place or device where washing occurs, such as a washing area or a car wash when used in compounds. In everyday language, mosó most often appears in compounds like autómosó (car wash), mosópor (laundry detergent), or mosóhely (washing place). The sense related to laundry facilities or services is common in both domestic and commercial contexts.

As an adjective, mosó describes items intended for washing or related to washing. Examples include mosóvíz (wash water) and other compound terms where the concept of washing is central. The standard Hungarian word for a washing machine is mosógép, not mosó, though mosó appears as a component in many related terms.

Etymology and morphology: mosó comes from mosni (“to wash”) plus the agentive suffix -ó, a productive formation in Hungarian that yields nouns and adjectives indicating the agent or instrument of an action. It is closely related to mosás, the noun for the act of washing.

Usage notes: In contemporary Hungarian, mosó often appears in compound nouns and is less commonly used on its own to denote a person or device compared to more specific terms.