kasvatavad

Kasvatavad is Estonian and serves as the present tense, third-person plural form of the verb kasvatama, meaning to raise, grow, cultivate, or educate. The exact meaning depends on context, ranging from bringing up children to farming crops or teaching and developing skills.

The form is built from the infinitive kasvatama, with the ending -vad indicating third-person plural present. The root kasv- is linked to growth, and the word family includes related nouns such as kasvatus (upbringing, cultivation) and kasv (growth). In sentences, the verb often takes a direct object in the partitive case, which is common in Estonian when the object is indefinite or generic.

Usage covers several domains. In family or social contexts, it describes raising or rearing people or animals: Nad kasvatavad lapsi hoolikalt. They raise children carefully. In agriculture or horticulture, it refers to growing plants or crops: Nad kasvatavad lilli ja köögivilju. They grow flowers and vegetables. In education or development contexts, it can denote nurturing or developing abilities: Vanemad kasvatavad oma lapsi vastavalt nende võimetele. Parents raise their children according to their abilities.

Related forms include kasvatatud (raised; past passive participle) and kasvatamine (upbringing, cultivation, the act of raising or growing). Kasvatavad is thus a versatile verb form used across contexts to express ongoing, plural subjects performing the action of growth, development, or education.