õitsema

Õitsema is an Estonian verb meaning to bloom or blossom. It describes when plants produce flowers and is used for literal flowering and, figuratively, for flourishing or thriving.

The verb is intransitive and is typically used with subjects such as lilled (flowers) or taimed (plants). A common present-tense construction is "Lilled õitsevad kevadel" (The flowers bloom in spring).

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun õis (flower) with the infinitive suffix -ma, following standard Estonian verb formation. The orthography uses the letter õ, a vowel characteristic of Estonian.

Conjugation note: Typical present-tense forms include "õitseb" (he/she/it blooms) and "õitsevad" (they bloom). The verb is regularly conjugated in other tenses according to standard patterns for -ma verbs.

Usage: In horticulture and natural description it is neutral and descriptive. In everyday language it can express the timing of flowering and plant health; in metaphorical contexts it can imply growth and vitality. Overall, õitsema is a basic term for describing the flowering phase of plants and is widely understood across dialects.