küünes

Kõnes is an Estonian noun form closely associated with the word for speech or address. In standard usage, the basic noun is kõne, while kõnes appears in inflected or fixed expressions and is encountered in written and spoken Estonian in contexts referring to speaking, oratory, or a specific instance of delivering a speech.

Etymology and form: Kõnes derives from the root kõne, meaning speech or address, and appears with grammatical endings that mark case and usage in sentences. As a result, kõnes can function as a dependent form within larger phrases, and it is commonly seen in formal writing, journalism, and ceremonial language.

Usage and contexts: The term is used to describe public speaking activities, such as political addresses, lectures, sermons, or formal remarks. It can refer to the act of giving a speech, the content of a speech, or the setting in which speaking occurs. In rhetoric and communications, kõnes is part of discourse about delivery, structure, and audience engagement. The word surfaces in educational materials and media coverage of public events to convey the act or instance of speaking.

Cultural and historical notes: Public speaking has a prominent place in Estonian public life, and terms relating to speech are common in political, academic, and cultural contexts. While kõne remains the general noun for a speech, its inflected forms, including kõnes, appear in diverse grammatical constructions to express location, manner, or reference within a sentence.

See also: speech (kõne), public speaking, rhetoric, oration.