Kümnendväljendit

Kümnendväljendit refers to a concept in Estonian grammar related to the formation of compound words or phrases where a number precedes a noun, often in a genitive case. This grammatical structure is common when expressing quantities. For example, "kaks maja" (two houses) uses the genitive plural "majade" in a more complex construction. However, the simpler, more direct form with the singular genitive or partitive is frequently encountered.

The term itself, kümnendväljendit, is a compound word. "Kümnend" relates to "ten" or "tenth," suggesting a connection to numerical expressions, though the concept extends beyond just the number ten. "Väljend" means expression or phrase. Therefore, kümnendväljendit can be understood as "numerical expressions" or "expressions involving numbers."

This grammatical feature is part of Estonian's rich case system. While the nominative case is typically used for subjects and direct objects, numbers often trigger the genitive or partitive case for the following noun. The specific case depends on the number itself and the context. For instance, with numbers from two to ten, the genitive plural is often used, as in "viis raamatut" (five books), where "raamatut" is the partitive singular but functions similarly in meaning to a genitive plural construct in other contexts. With larger numbers or in different grammatical constructions, the partitive might be preferred. Understanding these nuances is key to mastering Estonian grammar, particularly when dealing with quantities and numerical descriptions.