Suhtelisse

Suhtelisse is a term used in Estonian grammar to describe a specific inflected form associated with the idea of entering or transforming into a state related to relation or interaction. It is commonly interpreted as the translative form of a base related to suhtlus (relation, contact) or to the verb suhtlema (to relate, to interact). The translative suffix in Estonian is -lisse, which signals a change into the described state, making suhtelisse the form that would mean “into a relation” or “into a state of relating.”

In practice, suhtelisse is rare in everyday modern Estonian and is mainly encountered in linguistic descriptions, older texts, or dialectal usage. Modern speakers typically prefer paraphrastic constructions to express the idea of entering or becoming related, rather than relying on a single translative noun or verb form. When discussed in grammars, suhtelisse is presented alongside other case forms such as illative (into) with its own suffix (-sse) to illustrate how Estonian marks movement into a state versus movement into a place or direction.

Related forms in the Estonian case system include illative forms like suhtlusse (into a relation) and other derivatives derived from suhtlus or suhtlema. Suhtelisse serves as a case example used to demonstrate how the translative suffix operates and how it contrasts with other case endings in describing state changes and relational concepts.

See also: Estonian language, case system, translative case, illative case, suhtlus, suhtlema.