járja

járja is a Hungarian verb form derived from the verb járni, meaning to walk, go, or travel. It represents the present indicative third-person singular form when used with a definite direct object. In Hungarian, verbs with a definite object commonly appear in a distinct conjugation; therefore járja is used when the object is specified, whereas the bare form jár is used without a definite object.

The meaning of járja centers on moving about within a location or area, often with a sense of patrolling, visiting, or traversing. It can describe routine, ongoing action rather than a completed event. Common contexts include law enforcement or service patrols, travel through regions, or someone visiting multiple places in sequence. For example, ő járja az utcákat can be translated as “he goes around the streets” or “he patrols the streets,” and a sentence like a rendőr járja a környéket conveys a similar sense of patrolling the neighborhood.

Usage notes and nuance: because it carries a definite-object form, járja often implies a specific, identifiable set of places or things being traversed. The form is frequent in reporting, narrative prose, and descriptive writing to convey ongoing activity. It is the imperfective aspect of járni, emphasizing process or habit rather than a single completed trip.

Etymology and related forms: járja comes from the verb járni, which has cognates and similar semantic developments across Hungarian, all rooted in the core idea of moving on foot or progressing along a route. Related verbs include jár, járnak, járunk, and other forms used with varying subjects and objects.