Adjektiivne

Adjektiivne is the Estonian term for the word class commonly translated as “adjective” in English. Adjektiivne describes or modifies nouns and pronouns, expressing properties such as color, size, shape, or quality. They are a central part of Estonian grammar and are used in both attributive and predicative positions.

Morphology and agreement: Adjektiivne inflects for number and case to agree with the noun it modifies. Estonian uses a system of cases, and the adjective’s ending changes to match the noun’s form. Adjectives do not show gender, as Estonian lacks grammatical gender. They also form degrees of comparison, with positive, comparative, and superlative forms (for example, a base form describing a quality, a more- and most- form formed by suffixes or related patterns).

Usage and positions: Adjektiivne commonly appears before the noun it describes (attributive position), as in ilus maja (a beautiful house). In predicative position, after a linking verb such as olema (to be), they describe the subject, as in maja on ilus (the house is beautiful). Because there is no definite article in Estonian, definite or indefinite interpretation is usually inferred from context and grammar rather than a separate article.

Relation to other terms: The term adjektiivne is used in linguistic descriptions of Estonian and related Finnic languages. It is cognate with terms for “adjective” in related languages and serves as a basic category alongside other parts of speech in Estonian grammar.