Eleinte

Eleinte is a Hungarian adverb meaning “at first” or “initially.” It signals the initial phase of a situation, process, or sequence and is commonly used to set up a contrast with what comes later. The word functions in both spoken and written language and can introduce actions, states, or judgments that change over time.

In practice, eleinte appears at the beginning of a clause or sentence. For example: “Eleinte minden rendben volt, de később problémák adódtak.” It can also introduce a description of a developing situation: “Eleinte úgy tűnt, hogy gyorsan megoldjuk a feladatot.” The term is often found in narratives and expository writing, where temporal framing helps readers follow changes in events or assessments. It is frequently used with past tense verbs when recounting events.

Related expressions include kezdetben, először, and az elején. While kezdetben and először emphasize the initial moment or first steps, eleinte tends to highlight the initial phase as it unfolded, often with implications for what followed. Eleinte is a versatile particle in Hungarian, contributing to coherent storytelling and argumentation by marking the starting point of a sequence.