Ärritav

ärritav is an Estonian adjective meaning “irritating” or “irritant.” It describes something that provokes irritation or annoyance in a person, animal, or situation. The word is used for both physical stimuli (such as a scent, sound, or chemical) and social or emotional nuisance (for example, a behavior that irritates others). In dermatology or occupational health, the term can appear in the form ärritav aine, denoting an irritant substance that can cause skin or mucous membrane irritation.

Etymology and form: ärritav is formed from the verb ärritada, meaning “to irritate,” with the adjectival suffix -av, producing an adjective that means “causing irritation.” The base word and its derivatives are common in everyday and technical Estonian.

Pronunciation: Estonian stress is typically on the first syllable, so ärritav is pronounced roughly ARR-i-tav.

Usage notes: ärritav conveys a sense of ongoing or inherent irritation rather than a one-off discomfort. It is more specific than merely “unpleasant” and emphasizes the triggering of irritation. It can modify nouns such as lõhn (smell), heli (sound), käitumine (behavior), or toime (effect).

See also: irritant, irritatsioon (irritation), ärritaja (irritant or irritator).