puudutama

Puudutama is an Estonian verb with two main senses: a literal sense of touching something with a part of the body or an instrument, and a figurative sense of touching upon or affecting a topic, issue, or person.

In the literal sense, puudutama means to make physical contact. It is used when someone touches another person or an object, for example, "Ma puudutasin teda käega" (I touched him with my hand) or "käes puudutasin külge" (I touched the surface with my hand). This usage emphasizes direct contact and tangible interaction.

In the figurative sense, puudutama is used to indicate that something concerns, affects, or is related to a subject, matter, or feelings. Common constructions include "teema puudutab mind" (the topic touches/concerns me) or "see artikkel puudutab sotsiaalset ebavõrdsust" (this article touches on social inequality). The verb can also express emotional impact, as in "mind see lugu puudutas" (that story moved me). The figurative use often involves discussing or addressing a topic rather than physical contact.

Usage notes are that the verb appears in various tenses and forms (puudutan, puudutas, puudutanud) and commonly combines with nouns in reference to topics, issues, or emotions. Closely related verbs include puutuma and puudutama, which share the core idea of contact or relevance, but possess distinct usage patterns in different contexts.

See also: puutuma, puudutus.