järelvetmisele

Jälvetmist (Estonian: jälvetmis, .ˈjaːlˈtɛtmiːs) – the noun form of the verb *järgida*, meaning “to follow” or “to pursue” – refers to the act of tracking or keeping close to something or someone. The term derives from the root *järel*, which connotes “consecutive” or “subsequent”, combined with *vetmis* (the act of pulling or drawing). Together, the sense is that of following in the order or after the target’s movements.

In everyday Estonian, *järelvetmine* is employed to describe activities ranging from a child chasing a ball to a police officer following a suspect. The phrase is also used in legal and military contexts to denote surveillance or pursuit of a person or object. A related verb, *seada jälg* (to place a watch), expresses the idea of placing someone under observation. In the legal system, *järelvetamine* may imply the right to conduct surveillance with appropriate legal authorization.

Typical collocations include *järrevida* (to escape after being chased), *järgida* (to chase), *järgu* (to be watched) and *järgida jälgi* (to follow a trail). In literature, the term often appears in crime novels and detective stories, underscoring the tension between hunter and hunted.

The word also appears in compound forms such as *politseijärgnevus* (police follow-up) and *järelseadus* (subsequent legislation). Despite its usage in various registers, *järelvetmist* consistently retains the core idea of pursuit or continuous observation, and its translations in English typically are “pursuit”, “chase”, or “tracking”.