Neutraalsest

Neutraalsest is the elative singular form of the Estonian adjective neutraalne, meaning neutral. In Estonian, the elative case expresses origin, source, or movement away from something and is formed by adding the suffix -st to the stem. For neutraalne, the elative singular becomes neutraalsest. This form is used in noun phrases to indicate “from a neutral [perspective],” or more broadly “from neutrality,” depending on the noun it modifies.

In practice, neutraalsest appears in formal or written Estonian, often to convey a stance or standpoint. Common collocations include phrases such as neutraalsest vaatepunktist (from a neutral point of view) or neutraalsest maailmavaatest (from a neutral worldview). The construction typically pairs the elative adjective with a noun in its proper case, creating expressions that emphasize neutrality as a source or perspective.

Neutraalsest is distinct from neutraalne as an independent adjective and from neutraalsus, the noun meaning neutrality. While neutraalne describes a quality, neutraalsest as a case form marks a relationship to another element in the sentence. The use of neutraalsest is largely stylistic and register-dependent, more common in formal writing, journalism, and academic discourse than in everyday spoken Estonian.

See also Neutraalne, Neutraalsus, Estonian grammar, Estonian cases.