Alateadlikku

Alateadlikku is a grammatical form in the Estonian language. It represents the partitive singular form of the adjective alateadlik, which means unconscious or subconscious. This form is used to modify a noun that appears in the partitive case, often in sentences where the object is indefinite, partial, or not wholly specified. In practice, alateadlikku occurs mainly in written Estonian and in contexts such as psychology, literature, or descriptions of mental processes.

Etymology and related terms

The adjective alateadlik is formed from ala-, meaning under or sub-, and teadlik, meaning conscious or aware. The suffix -lik adds the sense of “likeness” or “having the quality of.” The noun forms most commonly associated with the concept of the subconscious are alateadvus (subconscious) and alateadlikkus (unconsciousness). Alateadlikku, by contrast, is a grammatical inflection used when the adjective directly modifies a partitive noun.

Usage

Alateadlikku appears when the sentence requires a partitive object or expresses an indefinite quantity or extent. It is not typically used as a standalone noun; instead, it functions as an attributive modifier within a larger clause. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer the noun forms alateadvus or alateadlikkus to convey the concept of the subconscious, while alateadlikku remains common in syntactically appropriate constructions in more formal or literary Estonian.

See also

alateadvus, alateadlikkus, teadvus (consciousness), psychology (psühholoogia)