vigyázni

Vigyázni is a Hungarian verb meaning to be careful, to watch over, to pay attention, or to take care of someone or something. It covers both general caution and active supervision, and it is used with various objects or contexts to indicate what should be watched or cared for. The verb can express personal responsibility, as in taking care of oneself, or the need to supervise another person or a situation.

Conjugation and forms. In the present tense the forms are: vigyázok, vigyázol, vigyáz, vigyázunk, vigyáztok, vigyáznak. The past tense forms are vigyáztam, vigyáztál, vigyázott, vigyáztunk, vigyáztatok, vigyáztak. The imperative has vigyázz (singular) and vigyázzatok (plural). Negative forms include ne vigyázz and ne vigyázzatok. The infinitive vigyázni is used with modal words like kell or lehet, as in Vigyázni kell. It can take a direct object or a prepositional phrase to indicate what is being watched or cared for, and it is common to use phrases such as vigyázni magadra (to take care of yourself) or vigyázni valamire (to be careful with something).

Usage notes. Vigyázni can denote general caution (Vigyázni kell) or specific supervision (vigyázok a gyerekre, vigyázok a tűzre). The noun vigyázat refers to caution or care itself, while vigyázó can describe a person or thing that is watchful. The expression vigyázni rá often appears in warnings or advice, such as “Vigyázz rá!” (Watch out for him/her) in informal speech.

Etymology and related terms. The verb derives from vigyázat, meaning caution or care, and related forms include vigyázó (watchful, cautious) and other compounds built on the same root. The word is common in everyday Hungarian and appears across formal and informal registers.