csókolom

Hungarian

Hungarian phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. For other Hungarian entries on this topic, see Greetings or Farewells.

Etymology

From the first-person singular indicative present definite of csókol, literally “I kiss (it)”. Ellipsis of kezét csókolom (“I kiss your hand”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ʃoːkolom]
• Hyphenation: csó‧ko‧lom
• Rhymes: -om

Verb

csókolom

1. first-person singular indicative present definite of csókol

Interjection

csókolom

1. hello (see usage notes)
2. goodbye (see usage notes)

Usage notes

• Csókolom is a polite greeting used towards someone considerably older than the speaker, particularly elderly ladies with whom one is acquainted. Little children are also often taught to indiscriminately greet adults regardless of their age and gender with csókolom, and sometimes they continue to use it well into adulthood towards people they have greeted this way as a child. Apart from these cases, all other usage is highly controversial, and many people find csókolom varyingly old-fashioned, or offensive since it implies familiarity, or outright absurd when said to a man, because of its original meaning (“I kiss your hand”).
• Csókolom can also be used to say goodbye in the same cases, by the same people, and aimed at the same people as described above for greeting.
• Almost always accompanied by the usage of the auxiliary verb tetszik, which also indicates politeness towards the elderly.