Mõistatavat

Mõistatavat is an Estonian adjective meaning “puzzle-like” or “enigmatic,” used to describe tasks, statements, or phenomena that invite solving or interpretation. It is formed from the verb mõistatama, meaning “to pose a riddle” or “to puzzle,” with the common participial suffix -atav. The base form mõistatav denotes something that is puzzling; mõistatavat is the partitive singular inflection, used in constructions that require the partitive case or when describing a category of something.

In use, mõistatavat describes problems or statements that challenge reasoning or interpretation. It is common in educational contexts for describing challenging exercises, in journalism when characterizing complex issues, and in literature and puzzle-writing to signal wordplay or riddling qualities. It should not be confused with mõistatus, the noun for a riddle, or with more neutral adjectives that merely describe something as interesting or unusual.

Examples of usage include phrases such as “see on mõistatavat laadi küsimus” and “mõistatavat laadi ülesanne tuleb lahendada loogika abil.” In these contexts, the adjective highlights the need for analysis, deduction, or imaginative thinking to reach a solution or interpretation.

See also: mõistatus (riddle), mälumäng (quiz or trivia game), and other descriptive terms for puzzle or riddle-related language.