lisandama

Lisandama is an Estonian verb meaning to add, append, or supplement something, and in culinary contexts often to garnish or enrich a dish. It is used for both concrete additions, such as ingredients, and more abstract additions, such as information, features, or remarks.

Etymology and form: the verb is derived from the noun lisand, meaning an addition, supplement, or garnish, with the infinitive suffix -ama. As a typical Estonian verb, lisandama is transitive and takes a direct object representing what is being added. The term also gives the noun lisand, used in phrases like “lisandina” (as a garnish) or “lisandina” in recipes.

Usage and examples: lisandama appears in everyday language in culinary and non-culinary contexts. Examples include: Ma lisan toidule veidi soola. (I am adding a little salt to the food.) Kas soovid veel midagi lisada? (Would you like to add anything else?) Ta lisas oma mõtteid arutelusse. (He added his thoughts to the discussion.) The verb forms follow standard Estonian conjugation, with past tense ljisasin, lisasid, lisas, and imperative lisa for singular.

Relation to related terms: lisand peab eristama lisandist (garnish or side dish) and täiendamine (to supplement or complete). While lisandama emphasizes the act of including something new, täiendama is often used when aiming to improve or complete something that already exists.

See also: lisand (addition, supplement; garnish or side dish).