Viljad

Viljad is an Estonian noun meaning edible agricultural produce. It is the plural form of vilja and is used to refer to crops or fruits produced by cultivated plants for consumption. The term encompasses a broad range of harvested materials, including cereal grains and other field crops, and in everyday language it often translates roughly to “produce” or “crops.” It is distinct from marjad (berries) and köögiviljad (vegetables); viljad focuses more on crops and harvestable commodities generally associated with farming and the agricultural economy.

In usage, viljad can denote both the goods themselves and the concept of harvest or yield. In agricultural statistics and market discourse, phrases like viljade saagikus (crop yield) or viljade hind (price of crops) may appear. The word reflects the historical importance of grain and harvest in Estonian rural life and is used across different registers, from everyday speech to official reports.

Etymology and scope: Viljad derives from the Estonian root vilj-, connected with grain and crop. It is cognate with terms in other Finnic languages that refer to cereals and harvest, indicating its longstanding association with farming, food production, and the economy of agricultural communities.