Liigi

Liigi is the genitive singular form of the Estonian noun liik, which means "species" or "kind." In Estonian grammar, liigi is used to express a relationship to a species within noun phrases, such as possession or description. It is not a standalone concept, but a grammatical form that appears in phrases like liigi nimi ("the species name") or liigi levik ("the distribution of the species"), and in constructions such as liigi kohta ("about the species") or liigi määratlus ("definition of the species").

Usage and context: In scientific writing, liigi frequently accompanies nouns that specify attributes, classifications, or research topics related to a species. The base form is liik, and the plural form is liigid. The genitive form liigi helps link descriptors to the appropriate species in descriptive or taxonomic contexts.

Examples:

- liigi nimi Homo sapiens (the species name is Homo sapiens).

- liigi levik (the distribution of the species).

- andmed liigi kohta (data about the species).

Relation to other forms: Liik has other grammatical forms for different cases and numbers, while liigi specifically marks the genitive singular. The plural form liigid is used when referring to multiple species.

See also: liik, liigid, taxonomy, Estonian grammar.