Kaasaegsetel

Kaasaegsetel is the Estonian adjective kaasaegne (modern, contemporary) in the adessive plural form. It is used to modify plural nouns in the adessive case, indicating “in/at/on the contemporary,” or more broadly “in modern times.” In Estonian, adjectives agree with the noun they describe in number and case, so kaasaegsetel appears when the noun is plural and in the adessive.

Formation and usage notes: The base form is kaasaegne. To create the adessive plural form, the ending -tel is added, producing kaasaegsetel. This form commonly precedes plural nouns in phrases that indicate a time frame, conditions, or groups associated with modernity, such as aegadel (times), inimesed (people), or tingimustel (conditions). Examples include kaasaegsetel aegadel (“in modern times”), kaasaegsetel inimestel (“among contemporary people”), and kaasaegsetel tingimustel (“under contemporary conditions”).

Context and nuance: Kaasaegsetel carries a neutral, descriptive tone suitable for academic writing, journalism, and cultural commentary. It often appears in contrasts with more historical or past contexts (for example, juxtaposing phenomena “kaasaegsetel aegadel” with those from earlier eras). The term does not imply novelty in a strict sense but rather situates discussion within the modern or contemporary period as defined by the discourse.

Examples:

- Kaasaegsetel aegadel toimusid paljud tehnoloogilised edusammud.

- Kaasaegsetel inimestel on ligipääs suurele hulgale teabearhivile.

- Artikli sõnastus pidas oluliseks töötada kaasaegsetel tingimustel.

See also: kaasaegne, Estonian grammar, adessive case.