sõitmas

Sõitmas is the present active participle of the Estonian verb sõitma, meaning to ride, drive, or travel by vehicle. As a non-finite form, it describes the action of moving by means of transportation that is currently in progress or planned.

In modern Estonian, sõitmas is commonly used with the auxiliary verb olema to express a progressive or ongoing action, similar to the English present continuous. For example, ma olen sõitmas can be understood as “I am travelling” or “I am on my way.” The phrase ta on sõitmas conveys that someone is currently en route. Sõitmas can also occur in more complex constructions, such as olin sõitmas or olles sõitmas, to indicate actions tied to being in transit, sometimes translating roughly as “while on the move.”

Etymology and related forms: sõitmas is formed from the infinitive sõitma by adding the present active participle suffix -mas. The verb’s other participial forms include sõitnud (past participle) and various finite forms of sõitma (to drive or ride). As a participle, sõitmas does not function as a standalone noun but rather as part of verbal phrases or adverbial clauses.

Usage notes: Sõitmas primarily conveys motion by vehicle and is more about the process than a completed trip. In everyday language, it often corresponds to phrases like “on the way” or “in transit,” depending on context.