tõlkima

Tõlkima is an Estonian verb meaning to translate, i.e., to render text or speech from one language into another. The act can refer to written translation and, depending on context, to interpretation. The infinitive is tõlkima; related forms include tõlge (translation), tõlkimine (the act of translating), and tõlkija (translator).

Use and scope: Translating covers literary, technical, and everyday text, and it may involve adapting style and terminology to the target language and audience. The process can be performed by humans or by machines; human translation emphasizes nuance and cultural context, while machine translation provides rapid, rough renderings that often require post-editing.

Grammar and forms: The word belongs to the native Estonian -ma verb class, with standard derivations such as tõlkimine (the act of translating) and tõlgitav (translatable). The passive form is tõlgitud (translated), as in Tekst on tõlgitud. The agent noun is tõlkija (translator).

Examples: Ma tõlgin selle teksti inglise keelde. This sentence means “I translate this text into English.” Tekst on tõlgitud. This means “The text has been translated.” The word can also appear in phrases describing translation work, tools, or processes, such as profession, standards, or quality control in translation.

See also: tõlge, tõlkimine, tõlkija. In contemporary use, tõlkima often appears in discussions of cross-language communication, localization, and multilingual content production, where accuracy, cultural nuance, and audience expectations shape the translation work.