tisztelg

Tisztelg is a Hungarian verb that denotes the act of bowing or paying respects to someone, typically as a gesture of deference toward a person of higher status or honor. It is associated with formal or ceremonial contexts where showing respect through gesture is customary. In modern standard Hungarian, the more common and widely used verb for this action is tiszteleg, while tisztelg is generally considered an archaic or regional variant.

Etymology and form: tisztelg appears to be connected to the root tisztel, meaning to honor or respect. Some dictionaries note tisztelg as an older or dialectal form of the same concept, rather than a separate, everyday verb in contemporary usage. The primary, still-dominant verb in Hungarian for this action remains tiszteleg, with tisztelg appearing mainly in historical texts or among older speakers.

Usage: The act can involve bodily gestures such as bowing or inclining the head, and it functions as a formal signal of acknowledgment or homage. In practice, speakers today would more often use tiszteleg or related constructions like tisztelegni to express the act of paying respects in a contemporary setting. The noun forms related to the idea of respect are tisztelet (respect) and tisztelegés (the act of bowing or paying respect), used in broader contexts beyond a single gesture.

See also: tisztelet; tiszteleg; tisztelegés.