puuduv

Puuduv is an Estonian adjective meaning missing, absent, or lacking. It describes something that is not present or not complete. The word is derived from the verb puuduma (to be missing) and uses the -uv suffix to form an adjective. It is commonly used before a noun, as in puuduv rahastus (funding that is missing) or puuduv teave (missing information).

Morphology and usage: Like other Estonian adjectives, puuduv inflects for number and case. Typical forms include puuduv (nominative singular), puuduva (genitive singular), puuduvat (partitive singular), and puuduvad (nominative plural). In phrases, it often appears attributively before the noun: puuduv rahastus, puuduv teave. It can also occur in sentences with the copula, but attributive use is the most common.

Nuance and context: Puuduv emphasizes absence rather than a shortfall in quality. It is distinct from puudulik, which connotes deficiency or inadequacy in quality, and from puudu in broader sense of something being missing or not available. In data quality, policy, and reporting contexts, puuduv is a standard term for signaling gaps, incomplete data, or unresolved elements.

Related terms: Puudub and puudu are related forms connected to the same root, used in different grammatical contexts to express absence or missingness. Puuduv remains the primary adjective for describing missing items directly before a noun in Estonian prose.