Intiimsed

Intiimsed is an Estonian adjective meaning intimate, private, or personal, used to describe plural nouns. It most often appears before nouns such as suhted (relationships), teemad (topics), elud (lives), or asjad (things). Examples include intiimsed suhted (intimate relationships) and intiimsed teemad (private topics).

In grammar, intiimsed is the nominative plural form of intiimne. The basic form is intiimne, and adjectives in Estonian agree with the noun in number and case. Intiimsed modifies plural nouns regardless of gender. For instance, intiimsed vestlused (intimate conversations) or intiimsed küsimused (sensitive questions).

Etymology: The root intiim- expresses closeness and privateness and appears across European languages in cognate forms. In Estonian, intiimne developed into a common word for personal or private matters.

Usage: The term is common in everyday speech and writing, but in formal contexts speakers may prefer isiklik or privaatne for strictly “personal” or “private” without sexual connotation. Intiimsed can carry a nuance of closeness or sensitivity, including romantic or sexual undertones, depending on context.

See also: intiimsus (intimacy), intiimsuslikkus (a related concept), isiklik (personal), privaatne (private).