körüljárni

körüljárni is a Hungarian verb that literally means “to enclose” or “to encompass.” The word is composed of the prefix kör- (meaning “around” or “circular”) and the verb ending -járni, which derives from the older verb járni “to walk” or “to go.” Literally, the verb describes the act of walking around and enclosing a space or object. In everyday use, körüljárni is often applied metaphorically to indicate surround or enclosure in a broader sense, such as surrounding a person with criticism or surrounding a place with protection.

In the past tense, the word becomes körüljárt, and the infinitive form is also used with modal auxiliaries in Hungarian, e.g., “meg kell körüljárni” (must surround). Common expressions include “körüljárni valamit” (to encircle something) and “figyeli körülötte körüljáró gondolatain” (to watch for surrounding thoughts). The verb can be used transitively or intransitively: “…körüljárni az erdő” (to surround the forest) or “három hetek alatt körülötte körüljáró csend már megállapodott” (the surrounding silence had settled).

körüljárni is related to the noun körüljáró, meaning “enclosure” or “surrounding environment,” and to the older noun kör, meaning “circle.” The term is not found in other major European languages; it is a uniquely Hungarian construction rooted in the agglutinative nature of the language.