Sügavus

Sügavus is an Estonian noun meaning the quality or extent of being deep. It can refer to physical depth—the distance from a surface to the bottom of a body of water, a cave, or a geological layer—and is measured in meters, kilometers, or other units depending on context. In geography, oceanography, and related fields, sügavus is a standard term for depth.

In scientific use, sügavus describes vertical dimensions and layered structure. For example, bathymetric maps record the sügavus of seas and lakes, while soil science uses sügavus to indicate the depth to certain horizons or bedrock. In surveying and engineering, depth is a crucial parameter for planning structures, drilling, and other tasks.

In metaphorical and aesthetic contexts, sügavus can also mean profundity or complexity of thought, emotion, or expression. A piece of literature, music, or a speech may be described as having great sügavus when it reveals multiple layers of meaning or evokes substantial emotional resonance.

Etymology: sügavus derives from sügav, meaning deep, with the suffix -us forming an abstract noun. The term is common in everyday Estonian as well as in technical and scientific language.