käima

Käima is an Estonian verb meaning to go or move around, and to visit places regularly. It is used to express movement on foot or habitual attendance, and it can also denote the operation or functioning of a service or device. Examples include Ma käin poes iga nädal (I go to the store every week) and Ta käib tööl (He goes to work). The sense of repetition or routine distinguishes käima from a single, one-off verb of leaving or starting an action.

In addition to literal movement, käima is used to describe regular functioning or availability of services, such as transport schedules or institutions: Buss käib iga 15 minuti tagant (The bus runs every 15 minutes).

Grammatical notes: Käima is an imperfective verb with standard Estonian conjugation. In the present tense the forms are käin, käid, käib, käime, käite, käivad. The past tense forms include käisin, käisid, käis, käisime, käisite, käisid, depending on person and number. The perfect aspect is formed with olema and the participle käinud (for example, Olen käinud poes = I have been to the store). The imperative forms are käi (singular) and käige (plural).

See also: Estonian language; Finnic languages; common Estonian verbs.