Laenudel

Laenudel is the Estonian adessive plural form of the noun laen, meaning "on loan" or "out on loan." It is used to describe the status or location of items that have been lent, such as books, equipment, or archival materials, typically within libraries, archives, or other lending institutions.

In practical use, laenudel appears in signs, catalogs, and notices to indicate that items are not currently available because they are borrowed. For example, a library catalog might list items as laenudel, or staff might note that certain teosed are laenudel. The expression helps communicate which materials are temporarily unavailable due to ongoing lending.

Grammatically, laenudel is the adessive plural form of laen. The corresponding singular form is laenul, used to denote a single item that is on loan (for example, raamat on laenul, meaning “the book is on loan”). The form laenudel emphasizes the plural quantity of items that are currently lent out.

In broader use, laenudel appears primarily in Estonian contexts involving lending and borrowing, especially in libraries, museums, and similar settings. It contrasts with terms describing ownership, acquisition, or return, providing a concise label for the ongoing status of borrowed materials.

See also: laen (loan), laenu (loan as a financial concept), laenud (loans, plural noun).