Veeliinid

Veeliinid is a term found in Estonian-language sources with multiple usages in folklore, linguistics, and contemporary media. The most common reference is in folklore to a class of water beings associated with lakes, rivers, and the sea. Descriptions of veeliinid vary across regions and tales; some sources portray them as guardians of freshwater domains, others as tricksters or shapeshifters with powers over water, weather, and mist.

The etymology of veeliinid is not fixed in scholarly sources. It appears to be formed from vee, the Estonian word for water, combined with a pluralizing suffix used in the naming of mythical beings. Because reliable, citable definitions remain diverse, there is no single authoritative origin.

In modern culture, the term has been adopted in fiction, art, and media in Estonia to name water-related creatures or characters. It appears in contemporary literature and local cultural projects as a motif representing waterways and nature. Within academic discussions, veeliinid are treated as part of the broader study of Baltic and Finnic water spirits, illustrating how oral tradition evolves in modern contexts.

See also: Estonian folklore, water spirits, Baltic mythologies.