Viisimäärsõnad

Viisimäärsõnad is a term used in Estonian linguistics to denote a small, coherent class of words that function as determiners expressing number or quantity within noun phrases. The category covers cardinal numerals (for example, one, two, three in Estonian: üks, kaks, kolm), as well as related quantifying words that precede a noun to specify how many items are being referred to and in some cases to express order or amount.

In usage, viisimäärsõnad typically occur before the noun they modify and form a unit with that noun in an inflected noun phrase. They are capable of determining case and number through the noun’s own inflection. Some members also serve as predicative modifiers in clauses, and their exact behavior can vary with context and with the noun they accompany. The category often includes cardinal numerals, ordinal numerals (esimene, teine, kolmas, etc.), and common quantifiers such as kõik (all), mõned (some), palju (many), vähe (few), and mitu (how many).

Morphology and syntax are central to viisimäärsõnad: while they share features with adjectives in appearing before nouns, they are typically treated as a distinct group because they primarily encode quantity or order rather than descriptive properties. They interact with Estonian case and number systems, agreeing with the noun they modify.

Examples include kolm õpilast (three students), esimene päev (the first day), kõik inimesed (all people), mitu päeva (how many days). As a practical category, viisimäärsõnad are essential for counting, quantifying, and ordering in Estonian discourse.