Vocab: nakatuma

to get infected

to get infected, to catch an infection

Building blocks

• naka- infect

• -tu- reflexive (express an action taking place with the subject itself)

• -ma - infinitive ending

The Estonian verb "nakatuma" (to get infected) is derived from the Proto-Finnic verb nakat, which means "to catch" or "to seize."

How to use it

What to note when using “nakatuma”:

1. By what you get infected is in the Illative case (ending -sse)

2. With what you get infected is in the Comitative case (ending -ga)

There are a few different situations in which you can use the word nakatuma:

• Health and Illness:

  • "Ta nakatus gripiviirusesse." (He got infected with the flu virus.)

• Technology and Computers:

  • "Arvuti nakatus viirusega." (The computer got infected with a virus.)

• Metaphorical Use:

  • "Ma nakatusin uute ideedega" (I got infected with new ideas.)

Examples

Laps ei tohi enne reisi nakatuda

Literally: “Child must not before travel get infected”

Idiomatically: “The child mustn’t get infected before travelling”

Laps - Noun - Nom Sg, "Child"
ei tohi - Verb - 3P Present Negative Sg, "must not"
enne - Adverb - "before"
reisi - Noun - Partitive Sg, "travel"
nakatuda - Verb - da-Infinitive, "get infected"