Kellega

Kellega is an Estonian interrogative construction meaning “with whom.” It is used to ask about the person with whom an action is performed or with whom someone is accompanied. The form combines the question word for “who” with the comitative suffix -ga, signaling accompaniment.

Usage and function

Kellega appears in questions about social interaction or coordination with another person. It answers who accompanies, collaborates with, or is involved with someone in a given action. It is commonly used with verbs of meeting, talking, traveling, working, and similar activities. For example:

- Kellega sa eile kohtusid? — Whom did you meet yesterday?

- Kellega ta plaanib reisi teha? — With whom does he plan to travel?

- Kellega nad koos töötavad? — With whom are they working together?

Relation to other forms

Millega is the corresponding form used for instruments or means (“with what”). Kellega is thus reserved for people. Other related pronouns in Estonian include keda and keda+case forms for different grammatical roles, but kellega specifically conveys accompaniment with a person.

Usage notes

Kellega is standard in both spoken and written Estonian. It typically appears in question clauses and can be combined with different tenses and mood via the accompanying verb. In informal speech, it is common and widely understood; more formal or explicit phrasing is possible if needed, but kellega remains the conventional form for “with whom.”

See also: millega, keda, kes.