szörny

Szörny is a Hungarian noun meaning "monster" or "beast." It denotes a wide variety of frightening, grotesque, or supernatural beings in folklore, myth, and contemporary fiction. In traditional Hungarian folklore, szörnyek are typically dangerous creatures living in remote places—forests, mountains, lakes, or caves—and are often depicted as antagonists who threaten humans or heroes. The range of forms includes ogre-like giants, demons, hybrid monsters, and other uncanny entities. Over time the term has broadened to cover non-anthropomorphic threats and, in everyday speech, can describe something frightening or repulsive, or metaphorically refer to a person perceived as cruel or formidable.

Etymology: The exact origin of szörny is uncertain. The word is attested in medieval Hungarian, and scholars have proposed various theories, but there is no consensus about a clear cognate outside Hungarian or a definitive proto-form.

In literature and media: Szörny appears in Hungarian fairy tales and modern fantasy and horror works as a creature figure or as a symbol of danger. The concept also influences Hungarian popular culture, where monsters are used to explore ethical, social, and existential themes. The word functions as a general term rather than a precise taxonomic category, allowing it to describe a diverse array of beings within a shared cultural vocabulary.