Figyelem: veszélyes hulladék!

Figyelem literally means attention. On signs and warnings, it is often used like Warning! or Attention! in English.

So in this sentence, Figyelem: introduces the warning:

• Figyelem: = Attention / Warning:
• veszélyes hulladék = hazardous waste

Its basic form is a noun meaning attention. But in this kind of sign, it functions a bit like an interjection or warning signal.

So even though it is originally a noun, in practice on a sign it works like:

• Attention!
• Warning!

Hungarian often uses ordinary nouns in this sign-like way.

Veszélyes means dangerous or hazardous.

It comes from:

• veszély = danger
• -es = an adjective-forming suffix, often meaning having, characterized by, or full of

So:

• veszély = danger
• veszélyes = dangerous

This is a very common Hungarian pattern:

• íz = taste
• ízes = tasty

Hulladék means waste, refuse, or discarded material.

In this sentence, veszélyes hulladék is the standard expression for hazardous waste.

Depending on context, hulladék can refer to:

• garbage
• industrial waste
• leftover material
• scrap or discarded matter

Because this is the style of a sign or label, not a full everyday sentence.

Hungarian signs often use short noun phrases instead of complete sentences, just like English:

• Kijárat = Exit
• Dohányozni tilos = Smoking prohibited
• Veszélyes hulladék = Hazardous waste

So the whole line is basically:

• Warning: hazardous waste!

It does not need a verb to work.

Hungarian often leaves out articles in labels, headings, and warning signs.

A full sentence could include an article in some contexts, but on a sign it is very natural to say simply:

• veszélyes hulladék

rather than something like:

• a veszélyes hulladék

This is similar to English signs that say:

• Danger
• Wet floor
• Hazardous material

instead of full sentences.

Because hulladék is usually treated like a mass noun, similar to English waste.

So:

• veszélyes hulladék = hazardous waste

Even if there is a large amount of it, the singular form is normal. Hungarian often uses the singular for materials and substances.

In this phrase, veszélyes does not change. Hungarian adjectives used before nouns generally do not show agreement the way adjectives do in many Indo-European languages.

So:

• veszélyes hulladék = hazardous waste
• veszélyes anyag = hazardous material
• veszélyes anyagok = hazardous materials

Notice that the adjective veszélyes stays the same.

The colon shows that Figyelem is introducing the content of the warning.

So the structure is:

• Figyelem: = Warning:
• veszélyes hulladék! = what the warning is about

This is very natural on official notices and labels.

Yes, that would also be understandable and natural.

The version with the colon:

• Figyelem: veszélyes hulladék!

feels a bit more like a formal label or notice:

• Warning: hazardous waste!

The version with two exclamations:

• Figyelem! Veszélyes hulladék!

feels more like two separate alerting statements:

• Attention! Hazardous waste!

A rough pronunciation guide:

• Figyelem ≈ FEE-dyeh-lem
• veszélyes ≈ VEH-say-yesh
• hulladék ≈ HOOL-lah-dayk

A few helpful points:

• Hungarian stress is usually on the first syllable of each word.
• gy is a soft sound somewhat like the d in British duke or like a softened dy.
• sz is pronounced like English s.
• s by itself is pronounced like English sh.
• é is a long vowel, roughly like ay in say, but purer.

Because both are possible in English, depending on context.

• veszélyes literally means dangerous
• But in technical, legal, industrial, or safety contexts, English often prefers hazardous

So on a warning label:

• veszélyes hulladék is best translated as hazardous waste

Even though word-for-word it looks like:

• dangerous waste

Not really. It is more like the language of:

• warning signs
• labels
• official notices
• industrial or environmental safety contexts

In everyday speech, someone might say a fuller sentence such as:

• Ez veszélyes hulladék. = This is hazardous waste.
• Vigyázz, ez veszélyes hulladék! = Be careful, this is hazardous waste!

So the original phrase is very natural, but specifically in a sign/notice style.

Yes. Vigyázat is another common warning word meaning Caution! or Warning!

So:

• Figyelem: veszélyes hulladék!
• Vigyázat: veszélyes hulladék!

Both are possible, but they feel slightly different:

• Figyelem = attention, notice this
• Vigyázat = be careful, watch out

On signage, both can appear, depending on tone and style.