helyébe

Helyébe is a Hungarian postpositional phrase formed from the noun hely (place) with the suffix -ébe. It expresses substitution or replacement, meaning “in someone’s place,” “in place of,” or “into the place of” a person or thing. The expression often denotes that a person or thing takes over another’s position or function.

Grammatically, helyébe functions as a complement indicating substitution and usually follows the entity being replaced. It appears in constructions with verbs of substitution such as lép (to step in) or kerül (to take a place). The form is used with people or positions, conveying a concrete transfer of duties or role.

In usage, helyébe is common in administrative, legal, journalistic, and literary Hungarian to describe taking over another’s role or acting on another’s behalf. It contrasts with related forms like helyett or helyére, which can carry different nuances (for example, more general “instead of” or “to the place of”). Helyébe typically emphasizes occupying the specific role or function of the replaced party.

Translations into English include “in place of,” “in someone’s place,” or “in his/her stead.” Common constructions include a person stepping into another’s role or duties: for example, a replacement who steps into a leadership position can be described as “valaki helyébe lép” (to step into someone’s place).

See also: helyette, helyére, helyett.