võistelda

Võistelda is an Estonian verb meaning to compete or to vie. It denotes taking part in a contest or striving to achieve a higher ranking or outcome relative to others. The term is used across a broad spectrum of contexts, including sports, games, academic contests, and professional or political settings where individuals or groups seek an advantage or public recognition.

In everyday Estonian, võistelda appears with various constructions. Common expressions include võistelda kellegagi, meaning to compete with someone, and võistelda millegi nimel, meaning to compete for something. The verb can also appear in phrases describing participants in a competition, such as competitors and medalists. Another closely related verb is võistlema, which also means to compete and is often used in the context of formal sports or events; the two verbs are overlapping in meaning but may carry slight nuance differences in certain registers.

The noun forms include võistlus (competition) and võistleja (competitor). The word belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic language family; its exact etymology is unclear, but it has cognates in other Finnic languages. The concept is central to descriptions of organized events, rankings, and efforts to outperform rivals, and it appears in reporting, instruction, and everyday speech about contests and games. See also: võistlus, võistleja, võistlema.