jälgida

Jälgida is an Estonian verb meaning to follow, track, monitor, or observe something over time. It is used when someone keeps watch on a person, process, data stream, or wildlife, often to understand development, ensure safety, or collect information.

In everyday language it can refer to keeping track of personal expenses, health metrics, or tasks. In wildlife and hunting contexts, jälgida refers to tracking animals or following animal tracks. In information technology and security, it denotes monitoring systems, networks, and log data. The related noun jälgimine means monitoring or tracking and is frequently used in technical and administrative contexts.

Etymology: the verb derives from the noun jälg, meaning trace or track, reflecting the idea of following a path or sequence. It is formed with the common Estonian -ida infinitive and follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs of this class: present tense forms include ma jälgin, sa jälgid, ta jälgib, me jälgime, te jälgite, nad jälgivad.

Notes: jälgida is a transitive verb and typically requires an object indicating what is being followed or monitored. It can be used across domains—from everyday life to professional fields such as project management, health monitoring, wildlife studies, and IT operations.