Võidelda

Võidelda is an Estonian verb meaning to fight or to struggle. It covers physical combat as well as non-physical contests, such as fighting for a cause, against illness, or through difficult circumstances. The verb is commonly used with prepositional phrases, for example võidelda vastu (to fight against) or võidelda oma õiguste eest (to fight for one’s rights), and can also be used with nouns in the sense of enduring a struggle.

Usage and nuance: Võidelda is versatile in both everyday language and formal writing. It often conveys a sustained or active effort in opposition to an opponent or a challenging condition. In many contexts, it can be used interchangeably with related verbs like võitlema, though they may carry subtle differences in nuance or register depending on the sentence.

Grammar and forms: Võidelda is a regular Estonian -da verb and follows standard Estonian conjugation patterns for this class. The infinitive is võidelda. Like other Estonian verbs, its forms change with person and tense, and it combines with objects and prepositional phrases to express who is fighting, what they fight against, and in whose interest the fight is conducted.

Etymology and related terms: The word is of Finno-Ugric origin and has cognates in related Finnic languages, reflecting a shared semantic field around contention and struggle. Related Estonian terms include võitlema (to fight, a closely related verb) and võitlus (a fight or struggle).

See also: võitlema, võitlus.