kristlikke

Kristlikke is an Estonian grammatical form of the adjective kristlik, meaning Christian or Christian-related. Specifically, kristlikke is the plural partitive form used before a noun in the partitive case, for example in phrases like kristlikke inimesi (Christian people) or kristlikke kogudusi (Christian congregations). It cannot stand alone as a noun but functions within noun phrases to indicate a Christian-related group or attribute in the partitive.

Etymology and linguistic context: kristlikke originates from the Estonian word kristlik, which carries the sense of being Christian. The term kristlik itself is a loanword formed in the Baltic-Finnic language area, with roots traced to the broader Christian vocabulary borrowed from Germanic and Latin sources, commonly via Swedish or German in the historical development of Estonian. The core root krist- reflects the concept of Christ, inherited from the Latin Christianus through intermediary languages.

Usage and register: kristlikke appears mainly in formal, religious, or historical contexts where the partitive plural is required. It is common in written Estonian when describing multiple Christian entities or groups as part of a larger object or measurement. In contemporary, everyday language, speakers may use other cases or simpler forms depending on the noun and context, but kristlikke remains correct in its grammatical function.

See also: kristlik, kristlus, Christian terminology in Estonian.