szakma

Szakma is a Hungarian noun meaning profession, trade, or craft. It denotes a field of skilled work as well as the practice of a specific occupation. The term is used in everyday language and in official contexts to distinguish between different trades, regulated by professional qualifications. Related words include szakmunkás (skilled worker) and szakmai (professional, as in szakmai képzés).

Historically, Hungary's skilled crafts were organized around guilds and apprenticeships. Apprentices learned a trade under a master, progressed to journeyman status, and aspired to master status. Guilds governed standards, tools, and the transfer of knowledge, influencing social structure and urban economies for centuries.

In modern Hungary, the concept remains central to education and the labor market. The term is used to describe trades taught in vocational education (szakképzés) and to categorize professional qualifications across numerous szakmák. Vocational training provides pathways to formal certificates that enable entry into specific professions or crafts, often combining classroom study with hands-on work experience.

Outside Hungary, the word is primarily understood by speakers of Hungarian; conceptually it aligns with the general idea of a profession, trade, or craft in other languages. Szakma also appears in contemporary discussions of career development, vocational reform, and the economy, reflecting the value placed on skilled labor.