Kätkestama

Kätkestama is an Estonian verb meaning to hide or conceal, often implying deliberate action to keep something out of sight or from others. The term can be used for physical concealment—stashing an object away—or for concealing information, intentions, or emotions.

In usage, kätkestama emphasizes a purposeful act of keeping something hidden. It appears in everyday speech and in formal writing when describing both literal hiding and secrecy or withholding information. The nuance can range from neutral to slightly evaluative, depending on context and what is being hidden.

The word is related to the broader Estonian concept of concealment and is part of a family of verbs around hiding, such as those meaning to hide, stash, or seclude. It is commonly paired with nouns that denote what is hidden (for example, a secret, money, or a plan). In translation, kätkestama is often rendered as “to hide,” “to stash,” or “to conceal,” depending on whether the emphasis is on physical concealment or on secrecy.

Etymologically, kätkestama derives from the root kätk-, which expresses concealment. The infinitive form is used to discuss the act itself, while inflected forms convey tense, mood, and subject as in other Estonian verbs.