kukkuma

Kukkuma is an Estonian verb meaning "to fall" or "to topple." It denotes a downward movement of a person or object from a higher to a lower position, typically under gravity or as a result of loss of balance. The verb is intransitive, generally taking a subject without a direct object in standard usage. The infinitive form is kukkuma, from which other forms are derived.

Noun forms related to the verb include kukkumine, which denotes the act or event of falling. The past participle kukkunud conveys the sense of “fallen” and is used in perfect tense constructions and as an adjective in compound phrases.

In usage, kukkuma covers physical falls, slips, and collapses, as well as figurative or idiomatic drops in other contexts. It appears in both everyday spoken Estonian and in written language. The verb participates in standard Estonian tense and aspect systems, often with auxiliary verbs to express completed actions (has fallen) or ongoing processes (is falling) when used in non-finite clauses or compound tenses.

Etymology and classification: kukkuma is a typical Estonian infinitive formed with the common suffix -ma. The stem kukk- is the base used to derive related forms. The word belongs to the Finnic language family, with cognates and parallel verb formations in related languages, reflecting common Finnic verb-formation patterns.

See also: kukkumine, kukkunud, kukkuma.