Elaltatni

Elaltatni is a Hungarian verb meaning to lull someone to sleep or to put someone to sleep, typically by soothing speech or medication. It is a transitive verb, used with an animate direct object such as a person or an animal, and it expresses bringing about sleep rather than merely falling asleep oneself.

Etymology: The verb derives from altat (to cause sleep) with the causative prefix el- and the infinitive suffix -ni, forming elaltatni, the act of causing someone to sleep.

Grammar and usage: In present tense, the forms include elaltatom (I lull to sleep), elaltatod (you lull to sleep), elaltatja (he/she/it lulls to sleep). The past tense is formed with -tatt-, as in elaltattam (I lulled), elaltattad (you lulled), elaltatta (he/she lulled). The future can be expressed with fogom + elaltatni or elaltatni fogom, e.g., I will lull the child to sleep. The verb is typically used with a direct object in the accusative case, e.g., elaltatom a gyereket (I lull the child to sleep). In medical or veterinary contexts, elaltatni may imply sedation or euthanasia when referring to a patient or animal.

Examples:

- Elaltatom a gyereket. (I lull the child to sleep.)

- Elaltattam a gyereket. (I lulled the child to sleep.)

- Ő elaltatja a gyereket. (He/she puts the child to sleep.)

- A férfi elaltatta a macskát. (The man put the cat to sleep.)

- A gyógyszer elaltatta a beteget. (The medicine put the patient to sleep.)

See also: altatás, altatószerek, alvás, elalvás, eutanázia (contextual usage in veterinary care).