käsitama

Käsitama is an Estonian verb meaning to handle, deal with, address, or process something. The core sense covers both concrete actions—handling a physical object—and more abstract tasks, such as addressing a topic, solving a problem, or processing information or requests. Common collocations include käsitlema teemat (to address a topic), käsitlema küsimust (to deal with a question), and andmete käsitlemine (data processing).

Etymology and sense evolution

The word is built from the root related to käsi (hand) with the productive suffix -tama. Historically it carried a sense of touching or handling with the hand, and over time it gained broader metaphorical meanings of handling, treating, or processing something.

Usage and contexts

Käsitama is widely used across domains such as academia, media, administration, and information technology. It denotes both practical handling of objects and procedural or analytical work. In formal writing, the related passive form käsitletakse (it is addressed/treated) is common when describing how a topic or issue is dealt with. Typical phrases include teemat käsitlema, küsimust käsitlema, and andmete käsitlemine. Related synonyms include käsitleda and käsitlema, which are often used interchangeably in many contexts, though nuances may vary by register.

Grammatical notes

Käsitama is a transitive verb that governs a direct object representing what is being handled or dealt with. It also forms the noun concepts käsitamine or käsitlemine for the act of handling or processing, and contributes to related terms such as käsitlus (treatment, approach).

See also

Käsitlema, käsitleda, käsitlus, käsitlus ja andmete töötlemine.