visszhang

Visszhang is the Hungarian term for the acoustic phenomenon commonly known in English as an echo. It refers to the reflection of sound from a surface back to the listener, such that the original sound is heard again after a distinct delay. If multiple reflections occur in quick succession, the result is reverberation rather than a discrete echo.

Etymology and usage: The word combines vissz- meaning “back” or “again” with hang meaning “sound.” In everyday Hungarian, visszhang can describe both a clear echo and the broader effect of reflected sound in a space. In technical contexts, distinctions are made between a single, detectable echo and the more continuous self-reinforcement of sound known as reverberation.

Causes and perception: An echo occurs when a sound wave travels to a distant surface and returns to the listener with a delay typically sufficient for the reflected sound to be heard as a separate event, often on the order of tens to hundreds of milliseconds. If reflections are numerous and arrive in rapid succession, the listener perceives reverberation instead of a distinct echo. The likelihood of hearing an echo depends on distance, surface properties, and the acoustics of the environment.

Applications and relevance: Echoes are considered in architectural acoustics, music venues, and sound design, where engineers manage reflections to achieve desired clarity or warmth. In technology, the term is used to describe delayed copies of signals in audio processing, digital effects, and sonar systems. Culturally, visszhang also appears metaphorically to denote response or repercussion to actions or events.

See also: Echo, Reverberation, Acoustic reflection.