Omadusõnad

Omadusõnad, also known as adjectives, are a part of speech that describe nouns or pronouns. They provide more information about the qualities, characteristics, or states of being of the entities they modify. In Estonian grammar, omadusõnad typically precede the noun they describe, although their position can sometimes vary for emphasis.

These words answer questions like "milline?" (which one/what kind?), "kuidas?" (how?), or "missugune?" (what sort of?). For example, in the phrase "suur maja" (big house), "suur" is an omadusõnad describing the noun "maja." Similarly, "punane auto" (red car) uses "punane" to specify the color of the car.

Omadusõnad in Estonian agree with the noun they modify in case, number, and often in definiteness. This means the ending of the adjective changes depending on its grammatical role in the sentence. For instance, if the noun is in the genitive case, the adjective will also take a genitive ending. This agreement is a fundamental aspect of Estonian syntax.

They can be comparative and superlative, allowing for the expression of degrees of a quality. For example, "ilus" (beautiful), "ilusam" (more beautiful), and "kõige ilusam" (most beautiful). These forms are essential for making comparisons and expressing nuanced descriptions.