kümneks

Kümneks is the translative case form of the Estonian cardinal number kümme (ten). In Estonian grammar, the translative case, marked with the suffix -ks, signals a transition into a state or denotes duration. When used with numerals, kümneks commonly forms expressions that specify a time span with a following time unit in the translative.

The typical use of kümneks is to express a duration by pairing the numeral with a time unit, creating phrases such as kümneks aastaks (for ten years), kümneks kuuks (for ten months), and kümneks päevaks (for ten days). In these constructions, the meaning conveyed is duration rather than a simple count, and the expression is common in formal or official language, contracts, and news reporting. By itself, kümneks is not usually used as a standalone word; its sense arises within the multiword expression.

Beyond time expressions, translative forms of numerals appear in other compounding contexts, but kümneks is most strongly associated with indicating a duration when paired with a unit of time. The form is invariant with respect to the gender of the noun it accompanies.

See also: Estonian grammar, translative case, Estonian numerals.