Sõltun

Sõltun is the first-person singular present tense of the Estonian verb sõltuma, meaning to depend or be dependent. It is used to express personal dependence on people, objects, situations, or systems and appears in everyday speech.

In usage, sõltun typically denotes practical or functional dependence rather than addiction. The noun sõltuvus refers to addiction or a state of dependence, while sõltuma describes the act of depending. A common expression related to dependence in general is see sõltub, meaning “that depends,” which uses a different grammatical form of the same verb.

Related forms include sõltuv, an adjective describing something that creates dependence or is addictive, and depending on context, sõltuvus is used for the corresponding noun. The language distinguishes between dependency as a behavior or condition (sõltun, sõltub) and addiction as a more persistent health-related state (sõltuvus).

Usage notes: In everyday Estonian, sõltun conveys a personal stance of dependence and can be followed by a person, resource, or circumstance (for example, a dependency on someone’s support or on a tool). For medical or behavioral contexts emphasizing compulsive use, sõltuvus is the common term. The two forms coexist in a way that allows speakers to differentiate between ordinary reliance and addiction.