Süvikud

Süvikud is a term found in Estonian-language sources that may refer to several different concepts, depending on context. It is the plural form derived from the noun süvik, a word that broadly denotes a hollow, cavity, or depression.

In geographic and geological usage, süvikud describe natural hollows, depressions, or sinkholes, particularly in karst landscapes where dissolution exposes hollow features. The term is used descriptively rather than as a formal technical classification in many regional sources.

In literature and folklore, süvikud has appeared as a proper name. In some Estonian works of fiction, it designates a fictional people or group, and it is sometimes employed as a place- or faction-name within world-building.

As a surname, Süvik is borne by individuals in Estonia; family records show instances of the name in historical and contemporary contexts.

Because there is no single, authoritative definition of süvikud, writers and researchers should specify which sense is intended—geological, cultural, or nominal—when using the term in texts. See also süvik, karst, toponymy.