Eltévedtek

Eltévedtek is a Hungarian verb form, the past tense for the third person plural of the verb eltévedni. It is used when the subject is "they" and means that they went astray, either literally by losing their way or figuratively by making a mistake or being misled.

The verb eltévedni combines the root téved (to err, be mistaken) with the prefix el-, which can convey leaving a correct course or state. This makes eltévedni applicable to both physical misnavigation and non-literal errors. The corresponding noun is eltévedés, referring to a mistake, an error, or a misdirection.

Usage covers two primary senses. In a geographic sense, eltévedtek describes people who have lost their way: "Eltévedtek az erdőben" (They got lost in the forest). In a more abstract or analytical sense, it can describe errors in judgment, reasoning, or interpretation: "Eltévedtek a számításokban" or "eltévedtek a következtetéseikben" (They misjudged or went astray in their calculations or conclusions).

As a finite verb form, eltévedtek agrees with a plural subject and appears in narrative past tense. Related forms include eltévedtem (I got lost), eltévedtél (you got lost), eltévedtek (they got lost). Related terms include eltévedés (a mistake, an error) and the base verb eltévedni for the infinitive.