Liiv

Liiv is the Estonian word for sand. It denotes the granular material commonly found in beaches, dunes, and sandy soils. The term is everyday vocabulary in Estonian and is used in geological and geographical descriptions to refer to sandy terrains or substrates.

The word liiv is a native Estonian term and part of the Finnic branch of the Uralic language family. In pronunciation, it is typically rendered with a long i sound, approximately as [ˈliːv], with the accent on the first syllable.

In Estonian toponymy and onomastics, the element liiv appears in place names and surnames that reflect sandy landscapes or characteristics of a landscape. A notable related historical form is Liivimaa, the Estonian name for Livonia, a historic region that covers parts of what are now Estonia and Latvia. The use of liiv in such toponyms signals a geographic or descriptive association with sand.

Overall, liiv functions as a basic lexical item in Estonian, while also serving as a cultural and historical marker in geographic names tied to sandy terrain.