tüürib

Tüürib is an Estonian verb meaning to herd or drive a group of animals, typically livestock such as sheep or cattle. It is used in pastoral or agricultural contexts to describe the action of guiding animals from one place to another, often with the help of a herding dog or a human caretaker.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from the noun tüür, which refers to a herd or flock, combined with the infinitive suffix -ima. The verb belongs to the first conjugation pattern of Estonian -ima verbs. In present tense, the third person singular form is tüürib, while other present forms follow regular conjugation: tüürin (I herd), tüürid (you herd), tüürime (we herd), tüürite (you all herd), tüürivad (they herd). The past tense is tüüris or tüürisime depending on person and mood, and the past participle is tüürinud.

Usage and nuance: Tüürib is commonly found in rural speech, agricultural writing, and historical or descriptive contexts about farming. It can be used literally to describe moving a flock or herd, or metaphorically to indicate guiding a group of people or items toward a goal in a supervisory sense.

Examples: Koer tüürib lambaid. (The dog herds the sheep.) Nad tüürivad kari kodu poole. (They are herding the flock toward home.)

See also: Herding, Estonian language, dog training (in the context of herding).