kolmandalt

Kolmandalt is a word form in Estonian used to express origin or starting point from the ordinal kolmas, meaning “third.” It is the elative form of the adjective, which functions to indicate that something comes from or is derived from the third item, place, or group when paired with a noun in constructions such as phrases.

In everyday usage, kolmandalt is typically found in combination with a noun to specify location or source. A common example is kolmandalt korruselt, meaning “from the third floor.” The form is productive in written Estonian and appears in descriptive, navigational, and technical texts where precise sourcing or origin needs to be stated. As with other elative forms, its exact meaning is determined by the accompanying noun and context.

Kolmandalt is not a separate concept or entity; rather, it is one of the standard inflected forms of the numeral-adjective kolmas. It may surface in formal registers more readily than in casual speech, where speakers might opt for broader, less specific phrasing. In practice, the use of kolmandalt is guided by normal Estonian syntax, including agreement with the noun it modifies and appropriate prepositional or postpositional framing.

See also: Estonian grammar, cases, elative, ordinal numerals.