ízesülni

ízesülni is a Hungarian verb used primarily in culinary contexts. The term literally means “to become flavored” or “to be seasoned.” It is typically applied to dishes, sauces, or any liquid preparation that gains taste through the addition of spices, herbs, or other flavoring agents. The verb is transitive, with the subject typically receiving the flavoring: for example, “A leves ízesülni kottal és horgászhonyhatván.” This translates as “the soup is seasoned with thyme and dill.”

The word derives from the noun íz, meaning “taste” or “flavor,” combined with the suffix -ül, which forms verbs that describe a change of state. In everyday usage, ízesülni can be used both literally, to describe cooking, and figuratively, to indicate that something takes on an appealing or desirable quality, such as “A projekt izzű kulcsok mentén ízesülni.” In this case the phrase means the project develops a distinctive or compelling character.

Unlike some related Hungarian verbs, ízesülni is not reflexive; the action is always directed toward a dish or substance rather than the person applying the seasoning. The passive form is ízesül, and the infinitive is ízesülni, used when constructing complex verb phrases, such as “a leves ízesülni fog.”