käitama

Käitama is an Estonian verb with several related meanings centered on action toward a person, an object, or a task. The primary senses are to treat someone in a particular way (to behave toward or with someone’s interests in mind), to handle, process, or manage something (to work on a task or to apply steps to an object or material), and, in some contexts, to apply a procedure or treatment to a patient or an object (for example in medical or technical settings). In everyday language, the nuance depends on the object: with people it often expresses interpersonal conduct or treatment, while with materials or tasks it denotes manipulation or processing.

Käitama is a transitive verb and typically takes a direct object referring to the recipient of the action (a person, animal, or thing being treated or handled). It can be complemented by phrases describing the manner or method of treatment or handling. In contrast, käituma is the reflexive form used to describe general behavior or conduct, often without a direct object.

Grammatically, käitama belongs to the Estonian -ama verb class and forms its tenses and moods in line with standard conjugation patterns for this class. The verb yields related nouns and phrases through common derivations, such as expressions for the manner of treatment or handling, and it relates semantically to words describing behavior and handling in Estonian.

See also: käsitlema, kohtlema, käitumine.