Eszembe

Eszembe is a Hungarian expression meaning “into my mind,” used to indicate that something has entered one’s thoughts or memory. Lexically, it comes from ész (mind) with the possessive suffix -em (my) and the allative suffix -be (into), yielding eszembe. It functions as a bound phrase rather than a standalone noun.

In ordinary use, eszembe is most commonly seen in combinations with verbs of coming to mind, especially jut (to come to mind) and villant (to flash). The standard construction is eszembe jut, meaning “it comes to mind” or “it occurs to me.” Other related forms include eszembe villant, “a thought flashed into my mind,” and the past tense Ez jutott eszembe, “This came to mind.”

Examples:

- Eszembe jutott egy régi emlék. — A old memory came to mind.

- Ez jutott eszembe. — This occurred to me / This came to mind.

- Eszembe villant egy ötlet. — An idea flashed into my mind.

Usage notes:

- Eszembe expresses internal mental events and is common in both spoken and written Hungarian, including journalism and literature.

- While the phrase can be formal, it remains primarily used in everyday language to convey spontaneous memory or realization.

See also:

- Hungarian grammar, especially expressions with ész (mind)

- Common Hungarian idioms for remembering and thinking