korterit

Korterit is the Estonian partitiiv singular form of the noun korter, meaning “an apartment” or “a flat.” It is not a separate lexical item but an inflected form used to refer to an apartment in an indefinite or non-specific sense. The base noun korter denotes a dwelling unit, and korterit appears in sentences where the object is not specified or is encountered in non-completed or non-assertive contexts.

In Estonian grammar, the partitiiv (partitive) is used for several purposes that shape the meaning of korterit: to indicate an indefinite quantity, to express non-completed actions, or to mark direct objects after certain verbs and negation. With numerals, the counted noun typically takes the partitiiv form; for example, kolme korterit would use korterit as the form that expresses “three apartments” in a non-specific, indefinite sense. Likewise, after negation, a direct object often appears in the partitiiv, so phrases like Mul pole korterit or Ma otsin ühte korterit are natural ways to say “I don’t have an apartment” or “I’m looking for an apartment.”

Examples illustrate common usage: “Ma otsin ühte korterit.” (I’m looking for an apartment.) “Mul pole korterit.” (I don’t have an apartment.) “Kolm korterit” (three apartments, with korterit in the partitiiv form after the numeral). The form korterit therefore serves as the standard way to express an indefinite or non-specific apartment within the Estonian sentence structure.

Related terms include korter (the base noun) and the broader Estonian case and number system that governs how korter is inflected across cases and numbers.