hátha

hát +‎ ha

• IPA^(key): [ˈhaːthɒ]

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• Hyphenation: hát‧ha

hátha (not comparable)

1. wish, if only

   Hátha nem hal meg! - Wish he doesn't die!

2. what if, perhaps, hopefully, hoping for, just in case,

   Próbáld meg újra, hátha most sikerül! - Try it again, perhaps it will work now.

   Leírom, hátha érdekel valakit. - I write it down, in case (hopefully) someone is interested.

   Vigyázz, hátha lehallgatnak. - Be careful, just in case they're wiretapping you.

   Ne bántsd, hátha nem is ő a tolvaj. - Don't hurt him, just in case he's not the thief.

This word has no equivalent in English. In the most simple case it means wish, if only, just in case. With the other more complex meaning, the clause of hátha describes the purpose or reason of a specified action, or in what case an action makes sense (is not in vain), or what one has in mind by doing something. This action is usually explicitly specified in the preceding clause (Megnézem, hátha már itt vannak. - I am going to take a look, just in case they are already here). It may also be implicit, e.g. the action that the speaker is doing (Hátha még nem zárt be a bolt! - Just in case the shop hasn't closed yet and then leaving).