kohalikest

Kohalikest is an Estonian linguistic form derived from the adjective kohalik, meaning local or indigenous. In usage, kohalikest typically functions as a plural non-nominative form that accompanies a noun in the text, often indicating origin, affiliation, or association with a particular locality. It is not a standalone noun; its precise meaning depends on the accompanying noun and case, and it commonly appears in phrases that refer to groups of people from a certain area.

In practice, kohalikest appears in contexts such as ethnographic writing, journalism, and sociological research, where distinctions between insiders and outsiders are relevant. It helps spotlight perspectives and knowledge rooted in a specific community. For example, kohalikest inimestest translates roughly as “from the locals” or “of the locals,” and kohalikest piirkondadest as “from local regions.” The form thus supports conveying local character, regional variation, or local sources without using a fixed noun for the group.

Etymology and morphology: kohalikest is formed from kohalik with inflection to reflect a plural non-nominative case. The exact case (partitive, genitive, or other) depends on syntactic function within a sentence. Because of this, kohalikest by itself does not denote a single entity but modifies a noun or stands as part of a larger phrase.

See also: kohalik (local), kohalik elanik (local resident), kohaliku kultuur (local culture).