menekülni

Menekülni is a Hungarian verb meaning to flee or to escape from danger, pursuit, or an undesirable situation. It can refer to a literal departure from a place to avoid harm, as well as a figurative sense of escaping obligations, responsibilities, or constraints. The infinitive form menekülni is used when speaking about the action in general or in constructions of intention.

Grammatical notes: menekülni is an intransitive verb. To indicate from what one flees, Hungarian commonly uses prepositional phrases with from- or away-from meanings, such as elől (from in front of) or a veszély elől (from the danger). The verb forms regularly with Hungarian conjugation patterns for -ülni/-ülni verbs. For example, present tense forms include én menekülök, te menekülsz, ő menekül, mi menekülünk, ti menekültök, ők menekülnek. Past forms use the same root with appropriate endings, and the related past participle menekült means “refugee” or “escaped.”

Related forms: menekült (the one who fled; refugee), menekülés (flight, escape), menekülő (adj. escaping, fugitive). The noun menekült is often used for people who have fled danger and sought safety, and it commonly appears in news reports and historical accounts.

Usage notes: in everyday language, menekülni can refer to escaping immediate danger (e.g., war, persecution) as well as escaping a difficult situation or pursuit. It appears in both literal and metaphorical contexts, and it is widely understood across standard Hungarian.

Example sentences:

- A város a bombázás elől menekült.

- Ők menekülni próbáltak a rendőrség elől.

- Szeretnék menekülni a zajos helyzetből.