Kirjeldatava

Kirjeldatava is a form found in Estonian grammar, used as the genitive singular of the adjective kirjeldatav, which means describable or capable of being described. The adjectives in Estonian commonly derive from verb stems with the suffix -atav, indicating potential or attribute, and kirjeldatav specifically denotes something that can be described.

In practical use, kirjeldatav describes a noun that is subject to description. The genitive singular form kirjeldatava is used when the adjective modifies a noun in a genitive construction, for example in phrases like kirjeldatava sündmuse kirjeldus, meaning “the description of a describable event,” or kirjeldatava isiku profiil, meaning “the profile of a describable person.” The form shows how Estonian adjectives agree with the noun they modify and how case endings propagate through noun phrases.

Etymology and morphology: kirjeldatav derives from the verb stem kirjeld- (to describe) combined with the descriptive suffix -atav, which yields an adjective meaning “describable.” The possessive or case endings then align with the noun in the surrounding clause, so the genitive singular of kirjeldatav is kirjeldatava. This pattern is common for Estonian adjectives formed with -atav and is a standard feature of descriptive grammar rather than a separate lexical entry.

See also: Estonian grammar, -atav adjectives, Estonian adjectives, noun–adjective agreement.

Note: kirjeldatava is not a standalone common noun; it is a declined form of the descriptive adjective kirjeldatav used in specific syntactic contexts to express describability within noun phrases.