looduslikust

Looduslikust is the elative singular form of the Estonian adjective looduslik, meaning natural or organic. In Estonian, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in case and number, and the elative case typically expresses origin or source, often translated as “from” or “out of.” Therefore looduslikust appears in phrases describing materials, origins, or qualities that come from nature.

Etymology and form: The word looduslik originates from the noun loodus (nature) plus the suffix -lik, which forms adjectives indicating a nature-related quality. Like other Estonian adjectives, looduslik declines to match the case of the noun it modifies, so in the elative singular you may encounter looduslikust, looduslikust materjalist, and related continuations of the phrase. The surrounding noun determines the final agreement, not the adjective alone.

Usage and examples: Looduslikust is commonly found in product labeling and descriptive writing to indicate natural origin or composition. Examples include: looduslikust materjalist tehtud ese (an item made from natural material), looduslikust toorainest valmistatud tooted (products made from natural raw materials), and looduslikust toidust pärinevad maitsed (flavors derived from natural foods). It is often contrasted with kunstlik (artificial) to highlight natural versus synthetic characteristics.

Related terms: The opposite adjective is kunstlik, with its own set of inflected forms (e.g., kunstlikust). The noun form looduslikkus denotes the quality of being natural, and the adverb looduslikult describes actions done in a natural manner.

See also: loodus (nature), kunstlik (artificial), looduskirjeldus (nature description), looduslikkus (naturalness).