Õpetada

Õpetada is an Estonian verb meaning to teach or to educate. It is a transitive verb used when someone imparts knowledge or a skill to another person. The basic construction is to teach someone something, for example: Ma õpetan sulle matemaatikat (I teach you mathematics). The subject is the teacher, the recipient is the learner, and the content is the subject matter or skill.

Etymology and related forms: The verb is native Estonian, linked to the noun õpe (education, learning). Related words include õpetaja (teacher), õpetamine (the act of teaching), õpetus (instruction), and õpe (education). These related forms reflect the core concept of instruction and learning.

Conjugation and usage: In present tense the forms are: ma õpetan, sa õpetad, ta õpetab, me õpetame, te õpetate, nad õpetavad. In the past tense: ma õpetasin, sa õpetasid, ta õpetas, me õpetasime, te õpetasite, nad õpetasid. Future tense in Estonian is typically expressed with context or auxiliary constructions, for example: Ta hakkab õpetama matemaatikat (He will start teaching mathematics). The verb can appear with different objects, as in õpetada kedagi midagi (to teach someone something) or õpetada kellelegi midagi (to teach someone something).

Derived forms and usage notes: The active participle is õpetav (teaching, instructive), and the passive participle is õpetatud (taught). The verbal noun is õpetamine (the act of teaching). Common examples illustrate teaching a subject, a skill, or a language, e.g., õpetama matemaatikat, õpetama kedagi seda oskust omandama.

See also: Õpetaja (teacher), Õpe (education), Õpetus (instruction). The word emphasizes formal or informal instruction and remains central to Estonian pedagogy and everyday communication.