vallomást

Vallomás is a statement in which a person reveals facts, usually relating to wrongdoing, and may be made in various contexts. In everyday language it can refer to a personal disclosure of experiences or beliefs; in religious terms it can mean a confession of sins, though the common sacramental confession is typically called gyónás in Hungarian.

In a legal context, vallomás commonly denotes an admission of guilt or a factual disclosure about a crime given to authorities, such as police, prosecutors, or a court. It can be oral or written and may concern the defendant or a witness. The evidentiary value of a vallomás depends on factors such as voluntariness, absence of coercion, and consistency with other evidence. Modern criminal procedure generally requires that confessions be voluntary and obtained without improper pressure; involuntary or coerced vallomások may be deemed invalid or excluded from proceedings. Distinctions exist between the defendant’s confession (vádlott vallomása) and witness statements (tanúvallomás).

In literature and culture, vallomás also refers to confessional works in which the author reveals intimate or revealing life experiences, often in a candid, autobiographical style. This use emphasizes truth-telling and self-revelation rather than legal implications.

Etymology traces the term to the verb vallani (to confess) with the noun-forming suffix -ás. Related concepts include beismerés (admission of guilt), önvallomás (self-confession), and gyónás (sacramental confession in religious practice).