Ootavad

Ootavad is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Estonian verb ootama, meaning to wait or to expect. It is a finite verb form used to describe that multiple subjects are currently waiting or are in the act of waiting.

Origin and morphology: The infinitive ootama forms the present tense with subject concord for plural third person by adding the ending -vad, yielding ootavad. The root is oot- (from ootama). Other present forms include ootan (I wait), ootad (you wait), ootab (he/she/it waits), ootame (we wait), and ootate (you all wait).

Usage: Ootavad is used with a subject such as nad (they) or can be implied from context. Example: Nad ootavad bussi. In written and spoken Estonian, this form is common in descriptions of ongoing action or routine activities.

Etymology and related forms: Ootama belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family, with cognates in related languages, such as Finnish odottaa. The form ootavad shares the typical Estonian pattern for -ama verbs in the present tense.