Tiibad

Tiibad is an Estonian noun meaning wings. It is the plural form of tiib and is used to refer to the paired lateral appendages of flying animals such as birds and bats, as well as to the wings of aircraft or the architectural wings or extensions of a building. In addition to literal wings, the term can be used in a broad or metaphorical sense to describe extensions or projections.

In modern standard Estonian, tiivad is the more common plural form for tiib in everyday usage. Tiibad is predominantly found in older texts, poetry, regional dialects, or stylistic writing where authors opt for a traditional or archaising plural ending. The distinction between tiivad and tiibad illustrates how Estonian nouns can have alternate plural forms depending on register and historical usage.

Etymology and related forms: Tiib is of Finnic origin and has cognates in related Finnic languages. For example, Finnish uses siipi for “wing.” The pluralization pattern with the -ad ending in tiibad reflects historical or regional variations in Estonian noun formation, rather than a standard contemporary form in everyday speech.

Usage notes: Tiibad may appear in descriptive prose when referring to the wings of birds, insects, or aircraft in a more classical or literary tone. It can also be used when describing architectural features that are referred to as wings of a building. In everyday language, speakers are more likely to use tiivad, while tiibad remains a recognizable, though less common, form for readers familiar with older or regional texts.

See also: tiib, tiivad, Estonian noun plurals.