külad

Külad is the Estonian plural noun meaning villages; it refers to small rural settlements in Estonia and in areas where Estonian is spoken. The singular form is küla. The term is used across official and everyday language to describe communities that are smaller than towns and are typically part of a larger municipality.

Estonian küla is a native word with cognates in other Finnic languages, notably Finnish kylä. The form reflects historical rural settlement patterns common to the Finnic-speaking world.

In the current administrative structure of Estonia, külad are not independent administrative units. They are settlements within rural or urban municipalities (vald and linn). The 2017 administrative-territorial reform merged many smaller municipalities into larger units, affecting how villages are administered but not changing their status as settlements.

Villages vary widely in size and character. Some are spread across farmland and forest, others cluster around a road, lake, or former manor. The toponymy of külad often derives from natural features, historical owners, or local industries.

In geography and demographics, külad are contrasted with linn (town) and alevik (small borough). The term appears in maps, census data, and place names.