Puhtam

Puhtam is an Estonian adjective meaning cleaner or purer. It is the comparative form of puhas, which means clean or pure, and it is used to compare two or more nouns. The superlative form is puhtaim. In ordinary use, puhtam agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case, for example: puhtam vesi (cleaner water).

Pronunciation in standard Estonian places the stress on the first syllable: PUH-tam. The word contains the consonant cluster vh, represented phonetically as [puh.tam], with the h pronounced as a voiceless glottal fricative.

Usage and examples:

- See on puhtam kui eelmine. This is cleaner than the previous one.

- Ma eelistaksin puhtamat ruumi. I would prefer a purer/cleaner room.

Figurative uses are common, where puhtam can convey ideas of greater integrity or genuineness, as in contexts describing behavior or motives.

Etymology and related forms:

- Derived from puhas, meaning clean or pure.

- Related terms include puhas (positive form) and puhtaim (superlative).

In linguistic and cultural contexts, puhtam is a standard part of everyday Estonian vocabulary used for both physical cleanliness and metaphorical purity. It functions like other Estonian comparatives, forming phrases with kui for comparisons and aligning with the noun’s case and number in a sentence. See also: puhas, Estonian language.