Vocab: valutama

to be in pain

to be in pain

Building blocks

• valu- pain

• -ta- factitive (“make/do pain”)

• -ma - infinitive ending

This verb is clearly derived from “valu” - “pain”, which apparently has its roots in a Germanic language (cf German “Qual” - “pain, suffering”).

How to use it

The reason for causing pain is the actor of this verb, so it is in the Nominative case (first base form).

Examples

Mu parem jalg valutab

Literally: “My right leg is in pain”

Idiomatically: “My right leg hurts”

Mu - Pronoun - Gen Sg, "my"
parem - Adjective - Nom Sg, "right"
jalg - Noun - Nom Sg, "leg"
valutab - Verb - 3P Sg Ind Present, "hurts"

Miks kõht valutab?

Literally: “Why stomach in pain?”

Idiomatically: “Why does your stomach hurt?”

Miks - Adverb - "why?"
kõht - Noun - Nom Sg, "stomach"
valutab - Verb - 3P Sg Ind Present, "hurts"