Pilvedest

Pilvedest is the elative plural form of the Estonian noun pilved (clouds). It literally means “from the clouds” and is used to indicate origin or source in Estonian sentences.

Form and grammar: In Estonian, the elative case marks origin or movement away from something. For plural nouns such as pilved, the elative plural takes the suffix -est, producing pilvedest. The form is primarily encountered in written Estonian, especially in poetry, descriptive prose, or meteorological text, and is less common in everyday speech.

Usage: Pilvedest denotes that something comes from or originates in the clouds. A typical weather-related usage is Vihm tuleb pilvedest, meaning “Rain comes from the clouds.” In poetic or descriptive writing, the phrase can help evoke atmospheric imagery or describe processes linked to the sky.

Context and notes: Pilvedest serves as an example of how Estonian uses the elative case to express source. While it is understood by speakers, it remains a relatively specialized form and is most likely to appear in formal, literary, or scientific contexts rather than casual conversation.

See also: pilv, Estonian grammar, elative case.