eltévedtünk

Eltévedtünk is a Hungarian verb form used to say that a group including the speaker "got lost" or "went astray." It is the first-person plural past tense (indicative) of the verb eltÉvedni (to get lost, to wander off). The prefix el- adds a sense of separation or completion, while tévedni means to err or wander.

Grammar-wise, eltÉvedtünk marks who performed the action (we) and when it happened (in the past). It can refer to physical disorientation, such as losing one’s way on a route, or to a more metaphorical sense, like losing track of a goal or direction in a discussion or plan.

Usage and nuances guide how it is understood. In everyday language it commonly describes getting physically lost during a trip or hike. Metaphorically, it can describe losing track of objectives or drifting away from a plan, especially in group contexts.

Examples:

- A túrán eltévedtünk az erdőben, és késő este találtuk meg az utunkat vissza a fallalóhoz. (During the hike we got lost in the forest and found our way back only late in the evening.)

- A megbeszélésen eltévedtünk a témától, de végül visszatértünk a lényeghez. (In the meeting we drifted from the topic, but eventually returned to the point.)

See also: tévedés, eltévedés, tévelygés.