käändu

Käändu is a term that appears in Estonian linguistic literature to refer to the act of changing a word’s form to reflect its grammatical role, i.e., to inflect it. In many modern discussions about Estonian grammar, the process is described with the more common terms käändumine (inflection) and käänded (cases). Käändu, when it appears, is typically treated as a historical or instructional label rather than a widely used everyday verb in contemporary standard Estonian.

In some grammars and teaching materials, käändu is presented as the imperative form of a verb meaning to inflect or bend a word to a different case. Because Estonian grammar has several overlapping terms for how word forms change, the exact status of käändu can vary by source. Modern standard usage tends to prefer the verbs käänduma or käänata when explaining how a word is transformed to another form, while käändu may be cited as a traditional or dialectal form or as part of language-history discussions.

Etymologically, käändu is linked to the root käänd-, which relates to bending, turning, or changing form. This semantic connection underlines its association with the concept of turning a base form into a different grammatical case. Related terms include käänded (cases), käändumine (inflection), and käänata (to bend or turn). Käändu thus occupies a niche role in describing the reflex of changing form rather than as a primary, widely used verb in everyday Estonian.