Väidavad

Väidavad is the Estonian third-person plural present tense form of the verb väitma, meaning “to claim” or “to assert.” It expresses that the subject(s) are making a claim or stating something, and it is commonly used in both spoken and written language to report others’ statements without endorsing them.

In usage, väidavad is typically followed by a subordinate clause introduced by et to present the content of the claim, for example: Nad väidavad, et ilm on muutunud (They claim that the weather has changed). It can also introduce a direct quotation. In journalistic, academic, or formal writing, it functions as a neutral reporting verb, signaling that the information comes from a source rather than the author.

Etymology and related forms: The verb väitma derives from the noun väide, meaning “claim” or “assertion,” sharing a common root. Related forms include väidan (I claim) and väidab (he/she claims). The tense and mood system of Estonian verbs means väidavad agrees with a plural subject in present time, while other forms handle different subjects and tenses. The word is common across domains such as media, law, and everyday conversation, where attributing statements to others is routine.