Niisuguseid

Niisuguseid is an Estonian word that functions as a demonstrative determiner meaning “such” or “these kinds of.” It is the partitive plural form of niisugune, and it accompanies plural nouns when the noun phrase is in the partitive case or when the speaker expresses an indefinite or non-countable sense. In use, niisuguseid points to a category or type of things that are being referred to, often in relation to something already mentioned or understood from context.

Etymology and forms: Niisugune is built from nii- (so, thus) and sugune (kind, type). The form niisuguseid is the partitive plural; it agrees with the following noun, which is typically in the partitive plural, as in niisuguseid inimesi (such people) or niisuguseid olukordi (such situations). Other related forms include niisugune (singular), niisugused (nominative plural), and various cases for different syntactic roles.

Usage notes: Niisuguseid is common in both spoken and written Estonian and is often preferred for general, non-specific references to a category. It contrasts with sellised, which can carry a slightly different nuance, sometimes implying a more concrete or previously encountered set of examples. The word is frequently combined with nouns in the partitive to express quantity or indefiniteness.

Examples:

- Ma nägin niisuguseid asju. (I saw such things.)

- Need niisugused inimesed on liiga palju. (There are too many such people.)

- Ta ei soovinud niisuguseid olukordi. (He did not want such situations.)

- Arvan, et niisuguseid juhtumeid tuleb vältida. (I think such cases should be avoided.)

See also: niisugune, selline, sarnane.