Átfontolni

Átfontolni is a Hungarian verb meaning to think about something carefully, to weigh options, or to deliberate before making a decision. The term emphasizes thorough or extended consideration, often in situations with significant consequences. It is related to megfontolni and átgondolni, but carries a nuance of weighing implications rather than merely reflecting.

Usage and grammar: Átfontolni is transitive, with the infinitive form átfontolni. In the present tense, it follows standard Hungarian conjugation for -ni verbs: én átfontolom, te átfontolod, ő átfontolja, mi átfontoljuk, ti átfontoljátok, ők átfontolják. The stem can also appear in different tenses and moods through regular endings, e.g., átfontoltam for “I pondered.” It is commonly used with a direct object such as egy döntést, egy lehetőséget, vagy a kockázatokat (a decision, a possibility, the risks).

Etymology and nuances: The word is formed from the base fontolni (to weigh or consider) with the prefix át-, which adds a sense of thoroughness or completion. The noun form átfontolás denotes the act of weighing or considering. In practice, átfontolni often conveys a deliberate, methodical process of evaluation before acting, and it is frequently chosen when the speaker wants to stress careful assessment of consequences.

See also: átgondolni, megfontolni, gondolkodni. Typical contexts include decision-making, risk assessment, and evaluating options before commitment. Example: “Mielőtt döntést hozol, alaposan átfontold a lehetőségeket.”