Seeläbi

Seeläbi is an Estonian adverbial phrase meaning "thus" or "thereby." It is used to indicate the result of a previous statement or the method by which something is accomplished. As a discourse marker, seeläbi links a prior idea to its consequence or to a described process, typically in formal or written Estonian, though it can occur in speech as well. It signals a logical link without naming the cause explicitly.

Origin and form: seeläbi is a closed compound formed from see (this) and läbi (through, via). It is treated as an invariable adverb and does not inflect. It can appear at the beginning of a clause or within a sentence, and is usually followed by a comma when it introduces the main clause.

Usage notes and examples: In formal writing, seeläbi helps present conclusions: Seeläbi on võimalik tagada turvalisus. It is often preferred over more general words like nii or seetõttu in contexts emphasizing method or consequence. It is more common in written and official language than in casual speech. Related expressions include sel viisil (in this way) and selle kaudu (through this).