Elektrilisi

Elektrilisi is an Estonian grammatical form of the adjective elektriline, meaning electric or electrical. It is the partitive plural form used with plural nouns when the noun phrase is in the partitive case. In Estonian, adjectives decline for number, case, and definiteness, so elektriline has different endings for different grammatical contexts. Elektrilisi specifically appears in phrases where the speaker refers to an indefinite portion of electrical objects or a partial amount of such objects, for example in "elektrilisi seadmeid" (electrical devices, in a partitive sense).

Usage and examples

- elektrilisi seadmeid: electrical devices (partitive plural)

- elektrilisi juhtmeid: electrical cables (partitive plural)

This form contrasts with elektrilised, the nominative plural form used when the noun phrase is the subject or a predicate in the nominative case, such as "need elektrilised seadmed" (these electrical devices) in colloquial variation, though standard pronunciation would typically prefer the noun form "need elektrilised seadmed" with the adjective matching the nominative plural.

Etymology and related forms

The root elektri- comes from electricity-related terminology, itself derived from the Greek elektron. The prefix is used across Estonian to form many electrical and electronic terms, such as elektriline (electric), elektriseadmed (electrical devices), and elektrienergia (electric energy). The partitive plural elektrilisi is one of several inflected forms used to express quantity and indefiniteness in Estonian adjective declension.

See also

Estonian grammar, especially adjective declension and case systems; terminology related to electricity in Estonian.