Öeldakse

Öeldakse is an Estonian grammatical form derived from the verb öelda, meaning to say. It functions as the present passive form and is used to express hearsay or general statements, often translating to English as “it is said” or “one says.”

Form and usage: It is formed by adding the passive suffix -akse to the verb stem öeld-, resulting in öeldakse. This form is impersonal; the sentence does not specify a definite subject. It commonly introduces clauses with et or stands alone to present a claim as widely accepted or reported, for example: Öeldakse, et see on tõsi. (It is said that this is true.)

Function and nuance: Öeldakse serves to cushion assertions, convey hearsay, or attribute statements to a general source rather than to a specific speaker. It is widely used in formal writing, journalism, and literary Estonian, as well as in everyday speech when discussing common beliefs or rumored information.

Related forms: The past passive participle of öelda is öeldud, meaning “said” or “spoken.” Other verb forms of öelda are used for direct speech or different tenses, but öeldakse remains the standard impersonal present passive form for reporting what people say without naming who says it.