Katuste

Katuste is the genitive plural form of the Estonian noun katus, meaning roofs or roof structures. The base noun katus refers to the exterior covering of a building that provides weather protection and insulation. Katuste is used when describing roofs in a possessive or relational sense, such as in phrases like katuste ehitus (roof construction) or katuste seisund (the condition of the roofs).

Grammatical note: In Estonian, katused is the nominative plural for roofs, while katuste is the genitive plural used to indicate possession or relation to roofs. This form appears frequently in technical, architectural, real estate, and building-code contexts.

Etymology and cognates: Katus belongs to the Finnic language family. In related languages, cognates exist with similar genitive-plural forms; for example Finnish kattojen serves a comparable role, reflecting shared linguistic roots.

Usage: Katuste primarily appears in technical and professional texts, drawings, and documents that discuss multiple roofs or roof-related aspects across buildings, such as housing developments, commercial complexes, or historical districts. It is less common in everyday speech than the singular katus.

Relation to design and climate: While katuste is a grammatical form, discussions about roofs in Estonia often address practical concerns such as waterproofing, insulation, drainage, and snow load. Maintenance topics may include inspecting membranes, shingles, or tiles and clearing debris across several roofs.

See also: katus; katto; Finnish kattojen (genitive plural).