võrduda

Võrduda is an Estonian verb whose core meaning is to compare or to be equal to something. The form derives from the root võrd-, associated with equality and parity. In usage, võrduda can describe both the act of comparing two or more items and the state of attaining similarity or equality with a standard, person, or group. The sense of comparison is commonly found in formal, analytical, or evaluative contexts, while the sense of equality or resemblance appears in discussions of standards, performance, or measurements.

In practice, võrduda appears in constructions where one thing is set against another or measured against a benchmark. For example, one might say that a result or performance “võrdub” a target level, or that a person “võrdub” their peers in some respect. The verb is related to other Estonian words such as võrdus (equality), võrrelda (to compare, which is the more widely used synonym in everyday language), and võrduv (comparable). The noun forms and adjectives derived from this root are used across academic, statistical, and evaluative prose.

Etymology traces võrduda to the Finnic root meaning equality, with cognates in related languages that express comparison or sameness. In Estonian, võrduda is primarily found in more formal or technical registers, while võrrelda is typically preferred for straightforward comparisons in everyday speech. See also: võrdsus, võrdsustama, võrrelda, võrduvus, sarnane.