Vocab: igatsema

to miss

to miss, to long for, to yearn for, to crave

Building blocks

• iga- - every/all

• -tse- - continuative (indicates an action is ongoing or extending over time)

• -ma - infinitive ending

It's derived from the noun "iga" (every, all). This connection is evident in the verb's meaning, which suggests a longing for something complete or whole.

How to use it

1. Longing for Someone or Something:

   • “Ma igatsen oma perekonda.” (I miss my family.)

2. Missing a Place or Location:

   • “Ma igatsen oma lapsepõlvekodu.” (I long for my childhood home.)

3. Longing for a Past Experience or Time:

   • “Igatsen aegu, mil kõik oli lihtsam.” (I miss the times when everything was simpler.)

4. Yearning for something you haven't achieved:

   • “Ma igatsen reisimist ja maailma avastamist.” (I yearn to travel and explore the world.)

Things to note when using the verb igatsema:

• Whom or what you miss is in the Partitive case (third base form)

• Or instead of Partitive you can also use Genitive + add the word “järele” (after). (Look at the examples below ⬇️)

Examples

Mu igatsen su puudutust

Literally: “I yearn your touch”

Idiomatically: “I yearn for your touch”

Ma - Pronoun - Nom Sg, "I" 
igatsen - Verb - 1P Present Sg, "yearn for"
su - Pronoun - Genitive Sg, "your"
puudutust - Noun - Partitive Sg, "touch"

Ma igatsen su puudutuse järele

Literally: “I yearn your touch after”

Idiomatically: “I yearn for your touch”

Ma - Pronoun - Nom Sg, "I" 
igatsen - Verb - 1P Present Sg, "yearn for"
su - Pronoun - Genitive Sg, "your"
puudutuse - Noun - Genitive Sg, "touch"
järele - Adverb - Indeclinable, "after"