Kuulava

Kuulava is an Estonian adjective meaning audible or hearable, describing sounds, voices, or other auditory phenomena that can be perceived. It is formed from the verb kuulama (to hear) with the participial suffix -av, following the productive pattern of -av adjectives in Estonian. In dictionaries the headword is typically presented in the nominative singular as kuulav, with other forms arising through regular agreement with number and case.

In use, kuulava refers to something that can be heard. It can apply to literal sounds, such as voices or music, as well as to figurative sense where something is easy to notice or grasp by listening. The term is common in descriptive writing, journalism, and linguistic or auditory-context discussions. Like other -av adjectives, kuulav inflects according to the noun it modifies, adapting endings for plural and various cases.

Etymologically, kuulava joins the root related to kuul- (to hear) with the standard Estonian -av participial suffix, placing it in the same family as other verbs-derived adjectives. It is largely confined to Estonian and is not a direct loanword from other languages; its use aligns with standard descriptive vocabulary for sound and perception.

See also: kuulama, kuuldav, kõla.