Formaalsemad

Formaalsemad is the Estonian comparative form of the adjective formaalne, meaning more formal. It is used to describe something that has a higher degree of formality, especially in language, attire, or behavior. In standard Estonian, the comparative for this adjective appears as formaalsem in the singular and formaalsemad in the plural. It typically accompanies nouns in the nominative case: formaalsemad dokumendid (more formal documents), formaalsemad juhised (more formal instructions). It can also function predicatively with a plural subject: Need dokumendid on formaalsemad kui varasemad (Those documents are more formal than the previous ones).

Formaalsemad often appears in style guides, journalistic writing, academic contexts, and sociolinguistic discussions as part of describing shifts in register or formality. It helps distinguish variations within a continuum from informal, neutral, to formal language, for example when choosing formaalsemad wording for official correspondence or reports.

Examples:

- Need dokumendid on formaalsemad kui varasemad.

- Formaalsemad sõnavõtud nõuavad täpseid termineid.

See also: formality, register, and style shifting are related concepts in sociolinguistics and writing guidance. Formaalne and its degrees, including formaalsem and formaalsemad, are used to articulate differences in how formal language or presentation is in a given context.