toitmise

Toitmise is an Estonian noun referring to the act or process of providing food to a person, animal, or group. In English, it is commonly translated as feeding or nourishment. The term is formed from the word toit, meaning "food," with the -mise suffix that creates an abstract noun. The related base verb is toitma (to feed). In many sentences, toitmise appears as the genitive singular of the noun toitmine, used in constructions such as loomade toitmise korraldamine (the organization of feeding for animals) or laste toitmise vajaduste hindamine (assessment of children's feeding needs).

Usage and scope: The concept is used across sectors such as agriculture, welfare, healthcare, and hospitality to describe routines, policies, and facilities for providing meals. In institutional settings, toitmise encompasses planning menus, ensuring dietary requirements, and managing the distribution of meals. It can also refer to the broader provisioning of nourishment in care settings, from farms to hospitals to schools.

Relation to related terms: The root toit means "food," and toitmine or toitmise denotes the act of feeding. Toitumine refers to nutrition or eating habits more broadly, while toitlustus denotes catering or meal-service operations. These terms sit within a family of words describing food, feeding, and nourishment in Estonian.

See also: toitumine, toitlustus, toit, Estonian language.