Laulud

Laulud is the Estonian plural noun meaning "songs." It is the nominative plural form of laul, which denotes a song or vocal piece; laulud thus refers to multiple songs or to song as a general category. The term is widely used in everyday Estonian, in musical criticism, education, media, and literature, and it frequently appears as a title for collections or albums that focus on songs or singing.

In linguistic terms, laul is a native Estonian word, and laulud follows standard Estonian pluralization by adding -ud to the stem laul. The word occurs in compound phrases such as rahvalaulud (folk songs) or kaasaegsed laulud (contemporary songs). In cultural usage, Estonia’s strong choral tradition and song culture give rise to its frequent appearance in discussions of music. While Laulud can be used generically, it is also found as the title of works or as a thematic label for song collections in literature and music.

Laulud thus functions both as a ordinary plural noun describing songs and as a common motif in Estonian culture, where singing and song collecting play a significant role in education, media, and national heritage. Related terms include laul (song) and the broader Song Festival tradition, Laulupidu, which underlines the symbolic place of singing in Estonian life.