úgy

• IPA^(key): [ˈuːɟ]

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• Rhymes: -uːɟ

úgy

1. so (in that manner, in such a way)

   Coordinate term: (in this way) így

2. evidential marker,[1][2] approx. “apparently”; see the Usage notes below and the Wikipedia article.
3. (colloquial) roughly, approximately

   Synonyms: nagyjából, körülbelül, durván, hozzávetőleg, közelítőleg, megközelítőleg, cirka

As an extension of its literal meaning, úgy is often used in phrases restricting a statement to one's personal information or intention, one's subjective perception or recollection as opposed to objective reality: úgy értem (“I mean”, “what I mean to say is…”), úgy tudom (“as far as I know”), úgy látom (“from what I see”, “in my perception”), úgy hallom (“from what I hear”), úgy érzem (“I feel/sense like…”), úgy emlékszem (“as far I remember”). Without úgy, these verb forms signify certainty (“I understand”, “I know”, “I see”, “I hear”, “I feel/sense”, “I remember”), e.g. Úgy látom, (hogy) itt járt vs. Látom, (hogy) itt járt (“apparently, s/he has been here” vs. “I see [and therefore I'm positive] that s/he has been here”).

It is also found as a dummy argument of verbs expressing opinion, e.g. hisz and gondol. These verbs can be supplemented with azt (“that”) instead, e.g. úgy hiszem/gondolom ~ azt hiszem/gondolom (“I think”, “I believe”, “I suppose”, “I guess”). Without úgy or azt, hisz expresses a firm belief, while gondol allows the total omission of these particles without significant change in meaning. Other verbs expressing opinion (vél) or appearance (tűnik, látszik, fest, kinéz) can only take úgy (note: úgy néz ki), as well as verbs indicating decision (dönt, határoz). Rumor can be expressed as úgy tartják (definite conjugation, third person plural form). Pretending or feigning something is usually expressed with úgy tesz, mintha… or úgy csinál, mintha…, literally, “he/she/it does as if…” (compare színlel and tettet, which lexically imply pretence). Úgy volt, hogy… (literally, “it was in such a way that…”) expresses outdated plans or intentions: “…was/were going to…”.

• úgy 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