Kaasomadussõna

Kaasomadussõna is an Estonian grammatical term referring to a word that denotes a shared possession or attribute. It is used when a single possessive adjective or pronoun applies to multiple nouns in a sentence. For example, in the phrase "Mari ja Jüri maja" (Mari and Jüri's house), "maja" is the common possession. However, the term "kaasomadussõna" specifically addresses the situation where a single possessive word is used to indicate this shared ownership.

Consider the sentence "Minu ja sinu raamat" (My and your book). Here, "minu ja sinu" are separate possessives. The concept of kaasomadussõna would apply if there were a single possessive word that indicated this joint ownership. In Estonian, this is often achieved through different grammatical constructions rather than a single specific word type acting as a kaasomadussõna in the same way a possessive pronoun might function in other languages.

The grammatical function of expressing shared possession can be achieved through various means in Estonian, including specific noun constructions or collective possessive adjectives. The term kaasomadussõna highlights the semantic role of indicating a shared attribute or belonging to multiple entities, even if it doesn't always translate to a distinct morphological category of word. Understanding this concept is crucial for a nuanced grasp of Estonian possessive structures and how they convey shared ownership or characteristics.