Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA |
|---|---|
| jóképű | [ˈjoːkeːpyː] (narrow) |
| jóvágású |
In Hungarian, these terms are used specifically to describe an attractive man. While jóképű is the standard and neutral way to describe a handsome man, jóvágású implies a more striking or well-defined facial structure.
What does it mean word for word?
jóképű is a compound of jó (good) and képű (having a certain shape or appearance/feature), meaning "good-featured". Similarly, jóvágású is a compound of jó (good) and vágású (having a certain cut/contour), meaning "good-cut" in reference to the lines of the face.
Which one should you use?
jóképű is the standard, neutral term for handsome, whereas jóvágású is used when highlighting a man's well-defined facial contours.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective jóképű is indeclinable, meaning it does not change its form based on the gender or number of the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- While jóképű is used for men, the word szép is the universal word for 'beautiful'. If you call a man szép, it suggests a delicate or ethereal beauty rather than rugged handsomeness.
- The concept of 'cut' in jóvágású can also be used metaphorically in Hungarian to describe someone with a 'sharp' or 'decisive' personality.
- The term jóvágású can also be used to describe a man's physique and posture, not just his facial structure, implying he is 'well-built'.
Examples in context
- Tom egy jóképű férfi.Tom is a handsome man.This sentence shows how to use jóképű to describe a man.Tatoeba #7847956 by jegaevi, translation #1025172 by CK
- Ma nagyon jóképű vagy.You are very handsome today.This sentence demonstrates the use of jóképű to compliment someone's appearance.Tatoeba #6991880 by H_Liliom, translation #6471039 by LeeSooHa
- Ő minden, csak nem jóképű.He is anything but handsome.This sentence illustrates using jóképű in a negative context.Tatoeba #4839297 by maaster, translation #295795 by CM
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zoltán and Anna are talking about a new colleague.
- ZoltánLáttad már az új kollégát?Have you seen the new colleague yet?
- AnnaIgen, nagyon jóképű férfi.Yes, he is a very handsome man.
- ZoltánSzerintem ő is úgy gondolja.I think he thinks so too.
- AnnaEz teljesen egyértelmű!That is completely obvious!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “handsome” translations and entries jóképű, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
