Juteldakse

Juteldakse is an Estonian finite verb form used to express passive voice. It is derived from the verb jutelda, meaning to talk, chat, or tell. The form signals that the action of talking or stating is happening, but the agent performing the action is not specified. This impersonal or reported construction is common in formal or informational writing, as well as in everyday speech when the speaker wants to avoid naming who is speaking.

Morphology and function: Juteldakse is formed with the present-tense stem of jutelda and the passive ending -akse. Like other Estonian passive forms, it allows statements to be presented without a clear subject. It often appears at the beginning of a clause to introduce reported information or commonly held beliefs. For example, a journalist might write, “Juteldakse, et uus seadus jõustub järgmisel aastal,” meaning “It is said that the new law will come into effect next year.”

Usage considerations: Juteldakse conveys neutrality and generality, suitable for summaries, announcements, and third-party reporting. It is less direct than a specific active construction and can soften assertions or present information as conventional wisdom rather than as a claim by a particular speaker. In translation, it is typically rendered as “it is said” or “one says.”

Relation to other forms: Juteldakse contrasts with active forms of jutelda that specify a subject, and with other passive constructions that may use different suffixes in other tenses. It is one of several common Estonian passive realizations used to report or generalize statements.