Põhiliselt

Põhiliselt is an Estonian adverb meaning mainly, chiefly, principally, or mostly. It is used to indicate that a particular aspect constitutes the majority or the central part of something, or to emphasize the main reason, factor, or focus in a statement.

Etymology: Põhiliselt is derived from the adjective põhiline, meaning main or principal, with the adverbial suffix -lt, producing a word that conveys doing or existing in a main way. The term is standard in both written and spoken Estonian and is common across registers.

Usage: Põhiliselt can be used with verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses to mark emphasis on the primary aspect. It is often interchangeable with peamiselt or enamasti, but carries a nuance of highlighting the central or dominant part rather than just a numeric majority. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts, including journalism, academia, and everyday speech.

Examples:

- Projekt on põhiliselt valmis. (The project is mainly finished.)

- Otsus põhineb põhiliselt andmetel. (The decision is based primarily on data.)

- Ta on põhiliselt huvitatud teadusest. (He is mainly interested in science.)

See also: peamiselt, enamasti, peaaegu.

Põhiliselt is a concise, neutral term for signaling the principal aspect of a statement, and it is widely used in Estonian discourse to frame the core focus of information.