Tõelisest

Tõelisest is an Estonian adjective form meaning “from a real/true” when used with a noun in the elative case. It is the elative singular form of the adjective tõeline, which means real, genuine or true. In Estonian, adjectives decline to match the case and number of the noun they modify, and the elative case ends with the suffix -st, giving tõelisest as a typical example.

Usage of tõelisest occurs when describing the source or origin of something in terms of authenticity. For example, phrases like tõelisest loost or tõelisest maailmast translate roughly as “from a real story” or “from the real world.” The form emphasizes that the noun belongs to the realm of reality or genuineness rather than being fictional or hypothetical.

Related forms include the base adjective tõeline (used in all other cases and with other nouns), the noun tõelisus (genuineness, authenticity), and the adverb tõeliselt (truly, genuinely). The genitive singular of the adjective is tõelise, and the partitive singular is tõelist, with other case forms following standard Estonian adjective declension patterns.

Etymology traces tõeline to the concept of truth and reality, with functional use expanding through inflection to convey precise nuances of source and authenticity in written Estonian. The elative form tõelisest reflects standard grammatical patterns, enabling precise expressions such as “from a real event” or “from genuine experience.” In everyday speech, speakers may opt for more common constructions with tõeline, while tõelisest remains typical in literary or formal registers.