Szemével

Szemével is a Hungarian instrumental form of the noun szem, meaning eye. It denotes the instrument or means by which an action is performed and is often translated as “with the eye” or “by eye” in English. The form is a standard part of Hungarian grammar and appears in literary, journalistic, and formal contexts as well as in some everyday usages.

Formation and scope: The instrumental suffix in Hungarian is typically -val/-vel, and in the case of szem the resulting form is szemével. The construction links the action to the observer’s eye as a means of perception or manipulation. In addition to perceptual verbs, the form may appear with verbs that describe acting through sight or observation, emphasizing the mode of engagement rather than the actor alone.

Usage and examples: Szemével is commonly used with verbs of seeing or watching. Examples include: “A történet mindent szemével figyelt,” meaning “He watched the events with his eye,” or more naturally in English, “He observed the events with his own eyes.” In literary writing, szemével can contribute to imagery by foregrounding visual perception as a practical instrument.

Relation to other instrumental forms: Hungarian frequently uses similar constructions with other body parts, such as kezével (with one’s hand) or fejével (with one’s head). These forms, including szemével, function to specify the means by which an action is carried out and can carry nuance related to perspective, attention, and immediacy.

See also: Hungarian grammar, instrumental case, szem, kezével, fejével.