levinud

Levinud is an Estonian adjective meaning widespread or common. It describes phenomena that are broadly distributed within a population or area, including ideas, practices, diseases, slang, technologies, or trends. The term is used in both formal and informal discourse and is often found in phrases such as laialdaselt levinud, meaning widely spread.

Etymology and form: Levinud is formed from the verb levima, meaning to spread, with the adjectival suffix -nud. As an adjective, it can modify nouns or function predicatively in a sentence, describing something that has already spread or become prevalent.

Usage and examples: A widely used expression is laialdaselt levinud arvamus, “a widely held belief.” Another example is see trend on levinud noorte seas, meaning this trend is common among young people. In academic or policy contexts, levinud is used to indicate that a phenomenon is not isolated but observable across multiple groups or regions.

Relation to related phrases: The adjective commonly pairs with adverbs that strengthen breadth, such as laialdaselt (widely) or üha levinum (increasingly widespread). It also appears in comparative or descriptive constructions to contrast prevalence across different contexts or over time.

Notes: Levinud carries a value judgment tied to the speaker’s perception of how common or widespread something is, and its interpretation can vary with context, data, and the population considered.