õdesid

Õde is the Estonian word for sister. The plural nominative is õed, while the form õdesid is a plural case form used in contexts such as partitive or genitive, when referring to some or all of one’s sisters or when the noun is not the subject of the sentence. In everyday use, õed is the common form for plain references, and õdesid appears in phrases that require a different grammatical role. The word can be combined with descriptors to indicate age order, for example vanem õde (older sister) and noorem õde (younger sister).

In a family context, sisters may have different ages and responsibilities, and the dynamics between siblings can affect family life and social support networks. In Estonia, as in many cultures, elder sisters sometimes assume mentoring or caregiving roles, but these patterns vary by family and individual circumstances.

In Estonian culture and language, õed is a frequent term in everyday speech, literature, and media when referring to female siblings. The concept of sisterhood also appears in folklore, songs, and proverbs, where it can denote close ties among female relatives or friends beyond a biological relationship.