tündér

Tündér is a supernatural being in Hungarian folklore, commonly translated as fairy. They are typically associated with nature and light, and may be benevolent or mischievous. The term appears in many folk tales and literary works across centuries.

Etymology is uncertain; the word appears in medieval Hungarian sources, and in some scholarly theories linked to notions of shining or luminous beings; regional traditions describe various types of tündérek, including beauty-loving forest spirits and water spirits.

In folk belief, tündérek inhabit forests, hills, caves, or springs. They may appear as beautiful humans, often with long hair and dazzling appearance. They can grant favors or cause mischief, and human interactions often involve bargains, tests of virtue, or marriages between mortals and tündérek (with the mortal sometimes becoming immortal or returning to the mortal world after fulfilling a vow). They may protect sources of water or mountains, and some tales warn against offending them or revealing their secrets.

In Hungarian literature, tündérek appear in collections of folktales by Benedek Elek and other writers; in modern fantasy and children's media, they are portrayed as magical beings akin to Western fairies; the term remains a common metaphor for beauty and enchantment.