útjába

útjába is a Hungarian expression used to indicate that something moves into or blocks another’s path. It conveys the idea of getting in the way, either physically, by an obstacle, or figuratively, by hindering plans or progress.

Etymology and form: the word is built from út, meaning road or path, plus the third-person possessive suffix -ja to yield útja (its path). The illative suffix -ba/-be attaches to that form, producing útjába, “into its path.” In use, útjákba functions as a prepositional complement with verbs such as kerül or áll, which express entering the path or blocking it. The construction can take different possessive forms (az útjába, a te útjába, az ő útjába) depending on the subject.

Usage and nuance: útjába typically describes both concrete and abstract obstructions. It often refers to obstacles that impede movement, actions, or plans, but can also be used for physical hindrances in a crowd or traffic scenario. The phrase emphasizes the directional aspect—something comes into someone’s or something’s way.

Examples:

- Az akadály az útjába került a futónak. (An obstacle got in the runner’s path.)

- Az útjába kerülő akadály megállította a versenyt. (The obstacle that came into the path halted the race.)

In everyday language, útjába is a common idiomatic way to express interference or obstruction, and it appears across informal speech, journalism, and literature.