nélkülözni

Nélkülözni is a Hungarian verb meaning to lack, to be in want, or to be deprived of something. It can describe a situation where a person or group does not have access to basic goods or resources, as well as the act of going without something due to necessity or hardship. The term often conveys a sense of poverty or deprivation, and it can appear in both everyday and formal contexts.

Usage and nuance: Nélkülözni is typically used with a direct object to indicate what is lacking, for example, basic necessities or services. It can also describe the condition of living in deprivation or extreme need, especially in social or economic analyses. The related noun “nélkülözés” denotes deprivation or destitution, while the adjective “nélküli” or the noun form “nélkülöző” can describe someone who lacks or is deprived.

Related terms and contrasts: Hungarian uses other verbs to express related ideas, such as “hiányolni” (to miss or feel the lack of something) or “szükség van valamire” (there is a need for something). Nélkülözés is commonly found in discussions of poverty, welfare, and social inequality, and it contrasts with more neutral, circumstance-based expressions of need.

Etymology: The verb derives from the root meaning “without” (kéntes form álló nélkül, with the suffix -özni to create a verbal form) and is linked to the noun “nélkülözés” (deprivation). The word remains part of standard Hungarian and is frequently used in literary, journalistic, and policy contexts.

See also: deprivation, poverty, destitution, deficit, nélkülözés, nélkülöző.