elalszik

Elalszik is a Hungarian verb meaning “to fall asleep” or “to go to sleep.” It is formed with the verb aludni (to sleep) and the prefix el-, which in Hungarian often marks the onset or completion of an action. The word denotes the transition from wakefulness to sleep and is used for people and animals alike.

The verb is intransitive and appears in various tenses. Common present usage includes examples such as “Elalszik a gyerek a mesére” (The child falls asleep during the story) or “A fáradt dolgozó hamar elalszik” (The tired worker falls asleep quickly). In the past tense one can say “Elaludt a gyerek” (The child fell asleep). The related noun is alvás (sleep), and a common related verb is aludni (to sleep). The opposite action is ébredni or felébredni (to wake up).

Notes on nuance: elalszik often emphasizes the beginning of sleep, sometimes due to tiredness, boredom, or relaxation, rather than a deliberate act of going to bed. It can be used metaphorically to describe a loss of attention or vigilance, though such usage is more context-dependent. In everyday language, elalszik is a standard, neutral term for the onset of sleep and appears across literary and colloquial contexts.