Pikkuse

Pikkuse is a term in the Estonian language that refers to length or extent. In everyday use it functions as the genitive form of the noun pikkus, which denotes the property of being long or the measurement of how long something is.

Etymology and grammatical use

Pikkus comes from the root pikk- meaning long, with the common noun ending -us. The genitive form pikkuse is used when describing the length of another noun, for example in phrases like the measurement of something’s length. A typical construction is koera pikkuse mõõtmine, meaning the measurement of a dog’s length. In mathematical or scientific contexts, pikkuse can refer to the length of a line segment, a distance, or other dimensional attributes, often expressed with units such as meters.

Usage and examples

In Estonian, pikkuse is most commonly seen in noun phrases that attribute length to another object. For instance, jaama pikkuse hindamine would translate to the assessment of the station’s length. When discussing ordinary objects, one might say auton pikkuse erinevus refers to comparing the lengths of cars. The term is used across disciplines, from geometry to everyday descriptive language, always tying the concept of length to a specific object or context.

See also

Related terms include pikkus (the base noun meaning length), distance, and measurement.