Vaatajate

Vaatajate is the genitive plural form of the Estonian noun vaataja, which means viewer, spectator, or observer. As a genitive plural, vaatajate is used to indicate possession or association with another noun, typically in phrases that describe “of the spectators” or “the spectators’ …” in formal or written contexts.

In practice, vaatajate appears in constructions that denote quantity, attributes, or related entities tied to spectators. Common examples include vaatajate arv (the number of spectators), vaatajate tähelepanu (the spectators’ attention), and vaatajate nimekiri (the list of spectators). The form is created by adding the genitive plural ending -te to the stem vaataja, a pattern found in several Estonian nouns.

Usage notes:

- Vaatajate is typically found when the possessed or related noun follows in a nominative or a dependent construction, often after numerals or descriptive modifiers.

- It contrasts with vaatajad, the nominative plural meaning “spectators” in a straightforward subject position.

Relation to related forms:

- The singular form is vaataja (a spectator).

- The nominative plural is vaatajad (spectators).

- Vaatajate serves specifically to express “of the spectators,” or to form compound phrases describing aspects linked to spectators.

Etymology:

- Derived from vaataja + the genitive plural suffix -te, reflecting standard Estonian word-formation for possessive or relational phrases.

See also: vaataja, vaatajad.