voolamisel

Voolamisel is an Estonian grammatical form derived from the verb voolama, meaning to flow. It designates the action of flowing as occurring simultaneously with another action and is used to express the idea of doing something “in the process of flowing” or “while flowing.” The form functions as an adverbial or circumstantial participle, signaling temporal or conditional context within sentences.

Formation and usage. The form is typically created from the verb’s infinitive by adding the suffix -misel, producing voolamisel. It commonly appears in noun phrases that describe ongoing processes, for example, voolamisel olev vedelik, meaning “the liquid that is in the process of flowing.” In clauses, voolamisel can indicate that the main action takes place at the same time as the flowing action. This construction is more frequent in formal, descriptive, or technical Estonian and is less common in everyday speech.

Relation to other forms. Voolamisel sits among Estonian circumstantial participles that express concurrent actions. It contrasts with simple present or past tense forms and with non-finite forms used to describe states or rapid events. Other verbs can form similar -misel constructions to convey parallel activities, contributing to a richer expressive repertoire in written language.

Notes on usage. Because voolamisel conveys a specific temporal nuance, it is most natural in contexts where processes unfold over time, such as scientific descriptions, technical writing, or literary narration. In colloquial speech, speakers may opt for alternative phrases that convey simultaneity in a more straightforward way, such as “samal ajal voolamas” or other simple clauses.