édes

Édes is a Hungarian adjective meaning sweet. It describes the taste of foods and drinks with a sugary or pleasant flavor, but it can also be used more broadly to denote something agreeable or pleasant. In addition to describing taste, édes is employed in figurative senses to express endearment or warmth, for example in affectionate forms of address.

The word occurs in many common Hungarian compounds and phrases. Examples include édesvíz, meaning freshwater or "sweet water"; édesburgonya, which corresponds to the sweet potato; and édesgyökér, referring to licorice. It is also used as a term of endearment in personal speech, such as édesem or édesanyám, meaning “my dear (darling)” and “my dear mother,” respectively.

In literature and culture, the word édes appears in titles and expressions that convey tenderness or charm. A notable example is the novella and play Édes Anna (Sweet Anna) by Dezső Kosztolányi, first published in 1926, which uses the term in a literary and emotional context.

Pronunciation is generally with a long first vowel, and the final consonant is a soft, voiceless schwa-like sound. The word is native to Hungarian and forms part of everyday speech as well as literary language.