Kangelase

Kangelase is the genitive singular form of the Estonian noun kangelane, meaning "hero." In standard Estonian, kangelane denotes a person regarded as a hero or savior, and Kangelase marks possession or association when the word is used in phrases such as "kangelase teod" (the hero's deeds), "kangelase lugu" (the hero's story), or "kangelase mõju" (the hero's influence).

The form is used in grammatical constructions requiring the genitive case: with nouns in noun phrases, after numerals, or with possessive adjectives. For example, "kangelase kohta" (about the hero) or "kangelase tegudest rääkides" (speaking of the hero's deeds). Kangelase may also appear as a proper noun in capitalization for surnames or place names, in which case it is treated as a standalone name rather than a grammatical inflection.

Etymology: Kangelase is derived from kangelane; the word refers to heroic qualities or actions in Estonian culture. In literature and folklore, kangelane and its inflected forms appear frequently to discuss heroes, legends, and their deeds.

Related terms include kangelane (singular nominative), kangelased (plural), and kangelaste (genitive plural). The term is widely used in academic, journalistic, and literary contexts to describe heroism and related themes. If the term needs to be used in a title or proper noun, capitalizing Kangelase signals its status as a name rather than just a grammatical form.