sápadt

Sápadt is a Hungarian adjective meaning pale or pallid, used to describe skin, lips, or other surfaces that lack color. It commonly implies illness, fear, fatigue, or cold, but can simply indicate a light complexion or lack of sun exposure. The term can apply to people, animals, or inanimate surfaces that appear colorless.

Origin and related forms: It derives from the verb sápad, “to pale.” Related words include sápadtság (pallor) and the verb sápadni (to become pale). The adverbial or intensifying forms are less common but can appear in descriptive prose to convey a somber mood.

Usage notes: Sápadt is used both attributively (sápadt arc, sápadt bőr) and predicatively (Az arca sápadt volt). It often contrasts with words meaning vivid or rosy, such as élénk or rózsaszín.

Nuance: Compared with halvány (pale but more general) and hamvas (ashen), sápadt conveys a stronger sense of unhealthy paleness or shock.

Examples: "A hideg szobában az arca sápadt lett." "A hirtelen hírre sápadt arcot öltött." In medical descriptions, pallor is typically described as sápadtság.