Vähema

Vähema is a form of the Estonian word vähe, meaning less or fewer. It functions as a determiner used before a noun to indicate a smaller amount or degree in comparison with another quantity. The base vähe is a quantifier, and vähema is one inflected form that appears in contexts where the noun requires agreement with the determiner.

In standard Estonian grammar, vähema is used before nouns to express a reduced quantity or extent. It often appears in formal writing, descriptive prose, and statistics, where precise comparison is important. In everyday speech, speakers may simply use vähe or other comparative constructions for simplicity.

Typical usage includes phrases such as vähema kuluga lahendus (a solution with lower cost) or vähema ajaga (in less time). The exact form of vähema can vary with the noun’s case and number in a sentence, reflecting the broader Finnic pattern of inflection in Estonian.

Etymology and relation to other forms: vähema derives from vähe, the basic Estonian word for a small amount or number. It is part of the same word family that expresses comparative or quantitative distinctions, and it is related to other inflected forms used to modify nouns in Estonian.

See also: vähe, greater emphasis on quantitative expressions in Estonian grammar.

Notes: Vähema is primarily a grammatical form within Estonian; it is not a standalone semantic concept outside of its role as a determiner.