Töötada

Töötada is an Estonian verb meaning to work, to be employed, or to operate. It covers activities performed by people as well as the functioning of machines, devices, or systems. In everyday use it can refer to employment and tasks as well as the general act of producing effort or energy in order to achieve a result.

Etymology and classification: Töötada is derived from the noun töö, meaning work, combined with a verb-forming suffix. It belongs to the common class of Estonian verbs that describe action or state and is used with both animate and inanimate subjects.

Usage and examples: In present tense, the verb is conjugated as follows: ma töötan, sa töötad, ta töötab, me töötame, te töötate, nad töötavad. Examples include: Ma töötan haiglas. Ta töötab arvutiga. Auto töötab hästi. The expression töötegemine or töö tegemine is often used to refer to performing specific work tasks, while tööd tegema emphasizes the act of doing work rather than being employed.

Inflection, aspect and related forms: Töötada forms various tenses and moods just like other Estonian verbs. The noun form tööstus or töö võib appear in related compounds, and the derived noun العامل töötegija (employee) or töötamine (working, the process of working) illustrate common word formation patterns around the concept of work.

See also: töö (work), töötaja (employee), töötamine (working), tööaeg (working time). Töötada is a foundational verb in Estonian for describing employment, labor, and the functioning of objects.