Kehtib

Kehtib is an Estonian verb meaning to be valid or to apply. It is used to express that a rule, law, agreement, statement, or other norm is in effect or applicable in a given situation. The form kehtib is the third-person singular present tense of the verb kehtima; the infinitive is kehtima. The verb is generally intransitive and is commonly paired with time expressions or references to regulations to indicate their current force or relevance.

In practical use, kehtib appears in contexts such as legal, administrative, and everyday language. It can refer to the validity period of documents, contracts, and warranties, as well as to the applicability of rules or decisions. For example, "Garantii kehtib kaks aastat" means that the warranty is valid for two years. "See reegel kehtib alates 1. jaanuarist" indicates the rule is in effect from a specific date. The negative form is ei kehti, as in "See väide ei kehti," meaning the claim does not apply.

Kehtiv is the related adjective meaning valid or in force, and kehtivus refers to validity or the state of being in effect. Kehtima and its forms are common in legal drafting, policy documents, and news reporting, where precision about applicability and time frames is important. The term is a typical example of how Estonian expresses current enforceability and applicability in official and everyday language.