átcsúszik

átcsúszik is a Hungarian verb form meaning “to slip,” “to slide,” or “to slide down.” It is the present tense, third-person singular (or second‑person singular formal) form of the verb átcsúszni, which is derived from át (across) and csúszni (to slip). The verb is used both literally, when describing objects that move with little friction, and figuratively, to describe movement that is smooth, effortless, or uncontrolled.

In practical contexts, átcsúszik is often used to describe a person or object sliding over a surface, such as a toddler sliding down a wooden slide, a disc slipping from a drawer, or an item that slides easily in a shallow cavity. The verb can also be used metaphorically to indicate a change in position or a shift of state that occurs smoothly or with ease. For example, a concept in a conversation may átcsúszik from one idea to another.

The conjugation pattern follows that of regular Hungarian verbs: átcsúszik (3rd person singular), átcsúszikek (we), átcsúszotok (you all), átcsúsznak (they). It forms a passive voice using the suffix –zik (e.g., átcsúszik) and can take additional modal auxiliaries such as k, ó, or segédigék to produce perfect or future forms, such as átcsúszott (slipped), átcsúsziknek (will slide).

The phrase can also appear in idiomatic expressions, for instance, a rugby player may say that the ball átcsúszka a fiatal futómásolásaink, meaning the ball slipped past the young runners. In sports, the verb emphasizes the speed and lack of resistance in a slide or lunge. The form is common in coaching commentary, where coaches instruct athletes to avoid sliding into dangerous positions.

An English equivalent for átcsúszik is slip or slide, although the nuance of “across” is often lost outside Hungarian. Its cognates can be seen across the Finno‑Ugric language family, where similar verbs denote sliding or slipping movements. This root remains integral to everyday Hungarian speech, reflecting both literal and figurative movement across surfaces and potential.