toituvad

Toituvad is an Estonian verb form meaning "they feed themselves" or "they nourish themselves." It is the third-person plural present tense of the verb toituma, and it is used to describe how a group or multiple subjects obtain sustenance. The form is reflexive in sense and is commonly found in ecological, nutritional, or agricultural contexts.

In linguistic terms, toituvad derives from the noun toit (food) with standard Estonian verb endings. It contrasts with non-reflexive forms such as toitub (he/she feeds) and with other terms related to nutrition. The construction typically requires the subject nad and may be followed by material or sources of nourishment, often expressed in the partitive or in a case that marks the source.

Usage: It is most frequent in scientific writing about animals, fungi, or plants, but can also appear in general discussions about diet or subsistence strategies when the subject is performing the act of feeding itself.

Examples: Nad toituvad. Nad toituvad peamiselt taimsetest materjalidest.

See also: Estonian language; toituma; nourishment; reflexive verbs.