kuulatakse

Kuulatakse is an Estonian verb meaning "to listen" or "to be listened to," derived from the verb *kuulama*, which translates to "to listen." In Estonian grammar, *kuulatakse* is the present passive form of *kuulama*, indicating that the subject of the sentence is undergoing the action of listening, rather than performing it.

The passive voice in Estonian is formed by combining the verb stem with the appropriate passive suffix and the appropriate auxiliary verb, often *olema* ("to be"). In this case, *kuulatakse* is constructed from the stem *kuula-* (from *kuulama*) plus the passive suffix *-takse*, which is used for the third-person singular present tense.

This verb is commonly used in both spoken and written Estonian to describe situations where someone or something is being listened to, such as in instructions, announcements, or descriptions of media consumption. For example, a sentence like *"Muusikat kuulatakse raudteejaamas"* ("Music is being listened to at the train station") describes an ongoing action where the focus is on the listening rather than the listener.

The passive form is particularly useful in contexts where the listener is unknown, irrelevant, or implied. It also helps to emphasize the action itself, such as in commands or formal instructions. While *kuulatakse* is primarily used in present tense contexts, similar passive constructions exist for other verb tenses in Estonian, maintaining consistency in grammatical structure.