szó

• IPA^(key): [ˈsoː]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -soː

From Turkic (compare Turkish sav), possibly through Proto-Ugric *sawɜ (compare Northern Mansi сов (sov), Northern Khanty сӑв (săw)).

szó (plural szavak or szók)

1. (linguistics) word (smallest unit of language which has a particular meaning)
2. word (promise; oath or guarantee)

   Sosem szegjük meg a szavunkat. ― We never break our word.

3. voice (an expressed opinion, choice, will, desire, or wish; the right or ability to make such expression or to have it considered)

   Népszava (title of a newspaper) ― The Voice of People

4. (chiefly as a second element in compounds) sound

   muzsikaszó ― sound of music

   orgonaszó ― the sound of the organ [the instrument]

   füttyszó ― sound of whistle

Szók as a plural form is mostly used in linguistic terminology, in compounds, e.g. kötőszók. In all other cases, szavak is preferred.

or

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

szó (plural szók)

2. sol (a syllable used in solfège to represent the fifth note of a major scale)

   Coordinate terms: dó, ré, mi, fá, lá, ti

Its inflected forms are uncommon.

or (as a means of distinction from the inflection of szó (“word”))

• (word): szó in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
• ([music] sol): szó in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
• (Hungarian) An article on solfège with hand signs
• szó in Hungarian–English dictionary at SZTAKI
• szó in Bizonfy, Ferenc. Magyar–angol szótár (’Hungarian–English Dictionary’). Budapest: Franklin Társulat, 1886