Päikest

Päikest is the partitive singular form of the Estonian noun päike, which means the sun. In Estonian grammar, the partitive case is used for incomplete or indefinite objects, after certain verbs, and in expressions of quantity or extent. The form päikest signals that the sun is being referenced in a non-total, non-definite sense or as part of a broader context such as weather or sunlight.

In practice, päikest appears in sentences where the sun is not treated as a definite, fully bounded object. It is commonly found after verbs of perception or experience and in phrases that describe the amount or quality of sunlight. For example, it can occur in expressions about sunlight or weather in a way that emphasizes partiality or non-specificity. The exact usage can vary with sentence structure and emphasis, but the partitive form is an established and productive pattern in standard Estonian.

Etymology and related forms: päike is the basic noun meaning sun, and päikest is its partitive singular. The word is widely used in everyday language, media, literature, and spoken Estonian. Like other Estonian nouns, päike belongs to a system of cases, and its inflected forms reflect grammatical function rather than only semantic meaning.

See also: päike (sun), Estonian grammar, partitive case.