Puuduta

Puuduta is an Estonian verb form used primarily as a command meaning “touch.” In standard dictionaries, the verb’s infinitive is listed as puudutada, with puuduta serving as the imperative singular form. The word belongs to the common class of Estonian -da/-ta verbs and has regular conjugation patterns in unfolding tense and mood forms.

The primary sense of puuduta is physical contact—touching an object, a surface, or a person with a finger or another implement. It is frequently encountered in everyday speech, as well as in instructional or navigational language for devices, surfaces, and interactive interfaces. In digital contexts, it is used in imperative phrases such as “Puuduta nuppu” (Touch the button) or “Puuduta ekraani” (Touch the screen).

Puuduta also participates in metaphorical usage related to the broader idea of touching or affecting. For example, a statement like “See teema puudutab mind” translates to “This topic concerns me” or “This topic touches me,” illustrating a figurative extension of the core meaning.

Related terms include the noun puutus or puudutus, which denote touch or contact, and other derivations built on the same root that express related actions or qualities. Puuduta is a common element in signage, manuals, and everyday communication, reflecting its straightforward and practical sense of touch.