Hobuseid

Hobuseid is the plural partitive form of the Estonian noun hobune, meaning “horses.” In Estonian grammar, the partitive case is used to express indefinite or non-specific quantities, and the plural partitive form hobuseid appears in contexts where the exact number of horses is not stated or when talking about a portion of horses rather than a definite set of individuals.

Hobuseid is typically used with quantifiers or expressions that indicate indefiniteness or partiality. For example, phrases like palju hobuseid (many horses) or vähe hobuseid (a few horses) employ the plural partitive. It can also appear in negative constructions, where the object of the verb is not taken as a definite whole, such as Ma ei näe hobuseid (I don’t see any horses).

In contrast, hobused is the nominative plural form and is used when horses are the subject of a sentence or otherwise referred to as a definite or countable group. The distinction between hobused and hobuseid reflects the broader Estonian system of cases and the use of the partitive to express indefiniteness, partiality, or non-completion.

Etymology, grammar, and usage of hobuseid are part of standard Estonian morphosyntax and are taught in resources on Estonian language grammar. The form illustrates how Estonian marks quantity and objecthood through case endings rather than prepositional phrases.

See also: Estonian language, Estonian grammar, partitive case, hobune.