Beír

Beír is a Hungarian verb formed with the prefix be- added to the root ír (to write). It denotes the action of writing into or onto something, or of entering information into a document, a form, a register, or a text. It can also mean to inscribe something physically, or to enroll or register in a course, list, or system. In everyday use, the primary sense is to place written information into an existing medium or record, rather than merely to write in isolation.

Common senses include writing into a text or field, writing an entry in a list or database, and enrolling in a program or course (often used with the related verb beiratkozik, to enroll). The verb is transitive and often takes an object for what is written (for example, a name, a note, or data) and a location phrase indicating where it is written (such as a form, a diary, a registry, or a book). Example sentences illustrate both literal and figurative meanings: Beírtam a nevemet a regiszterbe. (I entered my name in the register.) Beírtam a megjegyzést a szövegbe. (I inserted the note into the text.)

In terms of aspect and conjugation, beír is a prefixed (be- + ír) verb and forms its tenses in the same way as other Hungarian verbs with prefix be-. The imperfective vs. perfective distinction is expressed through tense and aspect rather than separate forms of the base verb. The noun form of the action is beírás, meaning an entry or inscription, i.e., the act or result of writing into something.

See also: ír, be- prefix, beiratkozik, beírás.