kõneledes

Kõneledes is an Estonian adverbial participle (gerund) formed from a verb meaning to speak or converse. The form expresses that the action of speaking occurs simultaneously with the action of the main clause, roughly equating to the English phrase “while speaking” or “speaking.” As a non-finite verb form, kõneledes does not change for person or number and typically refers to the subject of the main clause.

The suffix -des marks the adverbial participle in Estonian, and the stem remains otherwise regular with standard Estonian phonology and inflection. This form is most common in written Estonian, particularly in more formal or literary contexts; in everyday speech, speakers often use other constructions to express simultaneity.

Usage and examples: Ta vastas kõneledes rahuliku häälega. (He answered, speaking in a calm voice.) The construction can connect actions within one sentence and contributes to a concise, narrative style. It is often used to emphasize the act of speaking itself rather than the content of what is said.

Relation to other forms: Kõneledes is part of a broader set of gerundial or adverbial participles in Estonian, such as lugedes (while reading) or vaadates (while looking). For expressing simultaneous speech, speakers may also use andere forms like rääkides, from the verb rääkima, depending on stylistic preference. Kõneledes tends to appear in more formal or literary text, where the emphasis on the manner of speaking is desired.

See also: Estonian grammar, adverbial participles, gerunds, kõnelda, rääkima.