levágni

Levágni is a Hungarian verb meaning to cut off or to cut down, and more generally to trim or remove a part from a whole. It is a transitive and usually perfective verb, used to express a completed action. The word is formed from the root vágni (to cut) with the prefix le-, which adds a sense of separation or detachment.

In usage, levágni covers several concrete actions: cutting off a portion of an object (levágni egy darabot), trimming or shortening hair or nails (levágni a haját, levágni a körmét), and removing branches or other material from a plant or surface. It can also be used metaphorically to indicate removing or reducing something, though the core sense remains physical cutting.

Morphology and conjugation: levágni is the infinitive; it forms regular Hungarian conjugations with the prefix attached to the verb stem. Present tense examples: én levágom, te levágod, ő levágja; mi levágjuk, ti levágjátok, ők levágják. Past tense forms use the irregular stem change vágt-: levágtam, levágtad, levágta; levágtuk, levágtátok, levágták. The past participle is levágott.

Examples: Levágom a darabot a kenyérből. I cut off a piece from the bread. Levágta a haját. He cut his hair short. Levágtam az ágakat a fáról. I cut off the branches from the tree.

See also: vágás, vágnijáték? (note: related terms include vágás and kivágni), and megvágni for other nuances.