területbe

Területbe is the illative form of the Hungarian noun terület, meaning territory or area. In Hungarian, the illative is the case used to express motion into a space, roughly translating to “into the territory/area.” The form területbe is created by attaching the illative suffix -ba/-be to the stem terület, with the choice of -be here due to vowel harmony. As such, területbe is not a standalone word but a grammatical form used with verbs of movement.

Usage and meaning

Területbe is typically used with verbs that describe entering or moving into a space, such as belépni (to enter) or lépni (to step). For example, belépett a területbe can be translated as “entered the territory.” The illative emphasizes direction toward the interior of the space, rather than merely being on or at it, which would be expressed by other locative forms.

Relation to other forms

Területbe contrasts with területen (on/at the territory) and with broader directional forms such as területre (into the territory in some contexts, depending on the verb). Hungarian uses a system of cases to convey precise spatial relations, and területbe is one member of the illative pair used specifically for movement into a boundary or interior.

Examples

- A hadsereg belépett a területbe. (The army entered the territory.)

- A hajó belépett a területbe a kikötő felől. (The ship entered the territory from the harbor side.)

Etymology and form

The term derives from terület plus the illative suffix -be. The illative suffix combines with the noun according to Hungarian vowel harmony rules, producing területbe for this stem.

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