íj

új is a Hungarian adjective meaning "new," "recent," or "fresh." It is used to indicate that something has come into existence recently or is not previously present, and it can convey a sense of modernity or novelty. It appears before nouns in everyday expressions such as új autó (a new car), új könyv (a new book), or új korszak (a new era). The word is common in both literal and figurative contexts.

Pronunciation and spelling: új is written with a long u marked by the acute accent (ú) followed by j. It is pronounced roughly [ˈuːj]. In standard Hungarian, új is an invariable adjective; it does not change for gender, number, or case. The noun it modifies bears the inflection, as in az új autó (the new car) or az új autók (the new cars, with the noun carrying the plural ending).

Grammar notes: Hungarian adjectives, including új, precede the noun and do not take separate plural or case endings. Comparatives and superlatives are formed with suffixes rather than changes to the adjective itself: újabb means newer, legújabb means newest. The word can also form related nouns and compounds, such as újdonság (novelty or new thing).

Usage and nuance: újat often contrasts with old or known items, stressing recency rather than quality. It can be complemented by synonyms like friss (fresh) or korszerű (modern or up-to-date) depending on context. In fixed expressions and place names, új may appear as part of a proper noun, for example Újvidék (Hungarian name for Novi Sad), where it carries its general sense of “new” within a historic or geographic context.