Võiks

Võiks is an Estonian word forming the present conditional mood of the verb võima, meaning to be able to. It expresses possibility, hypothetical action, or a soft suggestion, and is frequently used without an explicit subject, in a way comparable to “could” or “would be able to” in English. In everyday Estonian, võiks is often used to propose an option or to make a polite recommendation, as in Võiks võtta natuke aega ja mõelda.

Morphology and usage: Võiks is the third-person singular present conditional form of võima. The conditional mood also has forms for other persons (for example võiksin for “I could”), but võiks by itself is widely used to convey a general “one could” or “you could.” The form can appear in independent clauses or in clauses introduced by et: Ta võiks tulla homme (He could come tomorrow). Ma võiksin aidata (I could help).

Nuances and context: Võiks carries a tentative or non-assertive tone and is typically softer than obligations or direct commands. It is common in both spoken and written Estonian, including casual speech, recommendations, and more formal contexts where politeness or hedging is desired. In subordinate clauses, võiks is often used to discuss possible outcomes or advisable actions without asserting certainty.