Elrelépni

Elrelépni is a Hungarian verb formed with the prefix el- attached to relépni, which in turn is derived from lépni (to step). The combination is understood to convey moving forward from a prior position, often with a nuance of going beyond a previous boundary or limit. In standard usage, elrelépni is much less common than the more common form előrelépni, and it tends to appear in older texts, dialects, or in stylistic/poetic contexts.

Etymology and form. The prefix el- in Hungarian frequently signals outward movement, separation, or completion, while relépni conveys forward stepping or progress. The resulting elrelépni thus emphasizes a step forward that departs from a previous state. The word aligns with related forms such as előrelépni (to advance, to make progress) and előrelépés (progress or advancement).

Usage and status. In contemporary standard Hungarian, elrelépni is rarely encountered and is generally considered archaic, dialectal, or stylistically marked. The more widely used counterpart for describing progress or advancement is előrelépni, which covers both literal and figurative movement forward in most contexts. Elrelépni may be found in historical texts, certain regional varieties, or deliberate literary contrasts.

Semantics and nuance. Both elrelépni and előrelépni express forward movement, but elrelépni can carry a stronger sense of departing a former position before moving ahead, whereas előrelépni emphasizes general progress or improvement without the same emphasis on leaving an earlier state.

See also. relépni, lépni, előrelépni, előrelépés.