Téveszteni

téveszteni is a Hungarian verb meaning to mislead, deceive, or lead someone astray by presenting false information. It is a transitive verb used with a direct object and denotes an act of intentional deception, though it can appear in a range of contexts from everyday speech to formal writing.

Etymology and related forms: The term is associated with the noun tévesztés (deception, misdirection) and with the related concept of error, tévedés. It is part of a family of verbs around deception, including megtéveszteni (to deceive) and félrevezetni (to mislead). In many contexts, megtéveszteni is the more common standard verb, while téveszteni remains widely understood and used in compounds and certain registers.

Usage: Téveszteni emphasizes causing someone to be wrong or to believe something false. It can describe deliberate manipulation or more general misguidance, depending on context. In journalism and formal writing, phrases built around megtéveszteni or félrevezetni are common, but téveszteni is also correct and recognizable.

Translations and nuance: The core sense is “to mislead” or “to misdirect.” The exact English rendering depends on context, with common equivalents being mislead, deceive, or lead astray.

Examples (in English): The political campaign misled voters with false promises. The advertisement was misleading and misled consumers. He was easily misled by a lie.

Notes: While megtéveszteni is often preferred for “to deceive,” téveszteni is standard and understood, especially in literary or compound usages.