äratama

Äratama is an Estonian verb meaning to wake up or to wake someone up. Its core sense is waking from sleep, i.e., causing a person or animal to stop sleeping. The verb is also used figuratively to arouse or awaken non-literal things, such as interest, attention, or emotions.

Grammatical notes: the verb is typically used transitively with a direct object referring to the person being awakened (for example, Ma äratan ta üles). It also has an intransitive counterpart describing waking up oneself, commonly expressed with verbs like älkama/ärkama in everyday speech. In addition, there is a related verb form, often used interchangeably in ordinary language, to mean the act of causing awakening. The noun aratus denotes the act of waking, and in compounds such as äratuskell the word refers to an alarm clock.

Usage examples: Ma äratan ta üles. Ta ärkas varakult. Lugu äratas tema huvi. These illustrate the primary sense of waking someone, the intransitive sense of waking oneself, and the metaphorical use to awaken interest. Äratuskell is a common compound used to mean alarm clock, highlighting the literal and everyday associations of the verb.

Etymology and related terms: äratama is closely linked with aratus and other wake-related terms in Estonian. The set of forms enables both literal waking and broader metaphorical usages, making äratama a versatile verb in contemporary Estonian.