tulistab

Tulistab is the third-person singular present tense form of the Estonian verb tulistama, meaning to shoot or to discharge a weapon. The primary sense covers firing firearms, artillery, or other projectiles, and it is commonly used in hunting, sport shooting, and military or law enforcement contexts. In written language, tulistab describes an actor actively firing at a target. The term can also appear in news reporting and narrative descriptions of combat or security operations.

In grammar, tulistab is a finite present indicative form. The corresponding infinitive is tulistama. Estonian verbs in this class follow standard conjugation patterns, so related forms include tulistan (I shoot), tulistad (you shoot), tulistame (we shoot), tulistate (you shoot), and tulistavad (they shoot). Past and perfect tenses are formed with the usual endings and auxiliary constructions typical of Estonian verbs; these forms align with standard patterns for verbs of this conjugation group.

Etymology commonly links tulistama to the stem tulist- with the infinitive suffix -ama. The root is historically associated with fire and discharging weapons, and the development of the meaning to shoot reflects its use in contexts involving firearms or other projectile weaponry. While the core sense remains literal, the word appears primarily in formal, military, or reportage contexts, with occasional metaphorical usage in broader media or literary language.

Related terms include tulistamine, the act of firing, and various compound forms built from the same root. The verb is a standard part of Estonian political, military, and everyday vocabulary where discussions of weapon use or marksmanship arise.