észlik

Ézlik is a Hungarian verb form derived from the root *esz* meaning “to eat.” In contemporary Hungarian, it appears in the third‑person singular present indicative form of the verb *eszik*, which means “he/she/it eats.” The form *észlik* is an archaic or literary variant that is rarely used in modern colloquial speech. It is sometimes found in classic Hungarian literature and poetic contexts where the author wishes to evoke an older, more formal tone. The verb is conjugated in the same way as other Hungarian verbs with the -ik ending, which marks the third‑person singular present tense.

Historically, *észlik* can be traced to older Hungarian texts where the vowel *é* was used alternately with *e* in certain dialects. The shift from *észlik* to the more common *eszik* reflects the vowel harmonization rules that became standard in the 19th century. In modern Hungarian dictionaries, *észlik* is generally listed under the headword *eszik* as a variant form, with notes indicating its rarity and literary usage. Because of this, learners of Hungarian typically do not encounter *észlik* in contemporary textbooks, though it may appear in anthologies of 19th‑century prose or in translations of foreign works into Hungarian. The form is also occasionally used humorously or nostalgically in informal speech to reference older usage.

In summary, *észlik* is an archaic, literary third‑person singular present tense form of the Hungarian verb *én enni* (“to eat”), resembling *eszik* but seldom used in everyday modern Hungarian.