juhitakse

Juhitakse is an Estonian verb form used to express the passive voice in the present tense. It translates roughly as “is guided” or “is led” and is employed when the subject of a sentence is the recipient of an action rather than the doer. The form is common in neutral, formal writing, such as news reports, official documents, and descriptions of processes or procedures.

Grammatical notes: Juhitakse is the present passive form derived from the verb juhitama (to guide, to lead) or juhtima (to manage). The passive is formed by attaching the ending -akse to the verb stem; it does not mark number, so the same form covers both singular and plural subjects. In sentences where the agent is specified, it is typically expressed with плюс poolt (by) followed by the agent in the genitive or partitive: Projekti juhitakse meeskonna poolt (The project is guided by the team).

Usage and nuance: The form is used when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally omitted. It lends a neutral, impersonal tone appropriate for describing procedures, organizational actions, or results. It can appear in administrative texts, policy statements, and descriptions of ongoing operations. The agent can be added for clarification, but is not required.

Related forms and etymology: Juhitakse is derived from juhitama/juhitada, rooted in juht- “leader.” Related forms include juhitav (to be guided; manageable) and juhitud (guided, as a participle). The voice reflects Estonian’s flexible approach to expressing agency, especially in formal or procedural contexts.