Elektrilisteks

Elektrilisteks is a grammatical form in Estonian. It is the translative plural of the adjective elektriline, meaning electric. In predicate constructions it is used to express turning into or taking on an electric characteristic, typically with a plural subject. The form can be translated roughly as “as electric [things/people]” or “in an electric capacity.” The usage is more common in formal, written, or grammatical explanations than in everyday speech.

Morphology and usage notes. The singular translative form of elektriline is elektriliseks, while the plural translative form is elektrilisteks. These endings are part of the Estonian translative paradigm, which marks change into a state or role. Elektrilisteks is therefore found in contexts where a group or plural subject is described as assuming an electric quality or function, often after verbs such as saama (to become) or jääma (to remain). Because it conveys a specific state rather than a simple attributive description, elektrilisteks tends to appear in carefully structured sentences rather than in casual dialogue.

Context and register. While not a everyday common form, elektrilisteks is a legitimate and productive part of Estonian grammar. It illustrates how adjectives in Estonian can take translative endings to express a change of state, especially for plural subjects. Learners encountering the form should note its predicative use and contrast it with the more standard attributive placement of the base adjective elektriline before a noun.

See also. Estonian grammar, translative case, adjectives in Estonian.