sérelmet

Sérelmet is a Hungarian noun form used to refer to harm, injury, or a grievance suffered by a person, or to an offense done to someone’s rights or dignity. The word denotes damage that can be physical, emotional, or moral, and it often appears in more formal or legal contexts.

In Hungarian usage, sérelmet is typically encountered in phrases that describe harm being caused or suffered. The form sérelmet is the definite accusative singular of the base noun sérelm (often translated as injury or grievance). Common constructions include sérelmet szenvedni (to suffer harm or a grievance) and sérelmet okozni (to cause harm or an offense). The term is generally more formal or literary than everyday alternatives such as kár (damage) or sérelem (grievance, distress).

Differentiation from related terms can hinge on nuance. Sérelm/sérelmet emphasizes a wounded dignity, a personal affront, or an injury to one’s rights, whereas kár emphasizes material or practical loss. Sérelem, a closely related word, also covers distress or grievance but is sometimes used with a softer, less formal tone. In legal language, sérelmet may appear alongside or in contrast to damages (kár) and compensation (kártérítés), depending on whether the focus is on the harm itself or on redress.

Examples:

- A bíróság megállapította, hogy sérelmet szenvedett az érintett fél. (The court found that the affected party suffered harm.)

- A vállalat sérelmet okozott az alkalmazottjának. (The company caused harm to the employee.)

See also: sérelm, sérelem, kár, kártérítés, sérelmezni.

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