lammaste

Lammaste is a term that appears in Estonian language usage and as a place name in Estonia. In Estonian grammar, lammas means “lamb,” and lammaste is the genitive plural form of lammas, used to express possession or association with lambs, or in certain contexts as a plural noun. The form also occurs in compounding and descriptive phrases involving sheep or livestock.

Lammaste is also a toponym in Estonia. The name is used for several small settlements in rural areas, reflecting historical ties to agricultural activity, particularly sheep farming, and to local land use. These places are typically described within the framework of county or parish administration.

Etymology and naming patterns: The toponym Lammaste is derived from lammas with a plural/genitive suffix common in Estonian place names. As a geographic name, it embodies a traditional link to pastoral landscapes and rural livelihoods, a pattern seen in many Estonian village and settlement names. In linguistic usage, lammaste functions as the inflected form of lammas in genitive plural, while as a proper noun it denotes specific localities.

See also: Lammas (lamb), Estonian language, Estonian toponymy, list of Estonian place names.