Meaning
The act of cleaning your hands.
Cultural Background
It is a strict social rule to wash hands when entering a home. Guests often ask for the bathroom immediately to do so. The figurative meaning is a direct reference to Pontius Pilate in the Bible, a story well-known in Hungary. The theme of washing away guilt is central to famous works like 'Ágnes asszony' by János Arany. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Moss kezet!' became a national slogan found on posters everywhere in Hungary.
The Bathroom Question
If you are at a party and need the toilet, asking 'Hol tudok kezet mosni?' is a very polite and discreet way to ask for the restroom.
Don't forget the 't'
Meaning
The act of cleaning your hands.
The Bathroom Question
If you are at a party and need the toilet, asking 'Hol tudok kezet mosni?' is a very polite and discreet way to ask for the restroom.
Don't forget the 't'
Figurative Power
Use 'mosom kezeimet' sparingly. It's a strong statement that can end a conversation or an argument.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Mielőtt asztalhoz ülünk, mindig _______ mosunk.
In the general collocation 'kezet mosni', we use the singular accusative without an article.
Which sentence uses the figurative meaning correctly?
A: Nagyon piszkos a ruhám, kezet mosok. B: Én megmondtam, hogy ne menj oda, most már mosom kezeimet.
Sentence B uses the phrase to disclaim responsibility after a warning was ignored.
Match the Hungarian phrase with its English context.
1. Hol tudok kezet mosni? 2. Mosom kezeimet! 3. Moss kezet!
These are the three most common functional uses of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
Vendég: 'Nagyon finom az illata a vacsorának!' Házigazda: 'Köszönöm! De előbb kérlek, menj el _______.'
The host is asking the guest to wash their hands before eating.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to wash hands in Hungary
Literal
- • Before eating
- • After arriving home
- • After using the toilet
Figurative
- • After giving ignored advice
- • During a scandal
- • When avoiding drama
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMielőtt asztalhoz ülünk, mindig _______ mosunk.
In the general collocation 'kezet mosni', we use the singular accusative without an article.
A: Nagyon piszkos a ruhám, kezet mosok. B: Én megmondtam, hogy ne menj oda, most már mosom kezeimet.
Sentence B uses the phrase to disclaim responsibility after a warning was ignored.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the three most common functional uses of the phrase.
Vendég: 'Nagyon finom az illata a vacsorának!' Házigazda: 'Köszönöm! De előbb kérlek, menj el _______.'
The host is asking the guest to wash their hands before eating.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, for the face we use 'arcot mosni'.
In Hungarian, when the action is general, we often use the singular form for body parts that come in pairs.
It's not rude, but it is firm. It shows you are done with a topic.
Only if you want to be specific. 'Kezet mosni' implies using soap.
'Mosni' is the act/process; 'megmosni' emphasizes finishing the act.
Yes, that means 'I am washing my hand/hands' (literally).
Not really a common one, but 'kézmosás' is the noun form.
Say: 'Mostál kezet?'
In the figurative sense, yes. It's almost always about distancing oneself from a negative outcome.
Yes, to clarify that a certain department is not responsible for another's failure.
Related Phrases
kezet fogni
similarto shake hands
tiszta kéz
builds onclean hands (honest)
elmosogatni
specialized formto wash dishes
kimosni
specialized formto wash out (clothes)
