lõbusat

Lõbusat is an Estonian adjective used in fixed festive greetings to wish others merriment or fun. The base form lõbus means “merry, cheerful, amusing,” and lõbusat is its partitive singular form used directly before a following noun in phrases such as “lõbusat jõulupüha” (Merry Christmas) and “lõbusat uut aastat” (Happy New Year). In these expressions, lõbusat functions as a wish rather than a descriptive statement, similar to the English “Merry.”

The word derives from the noun lõbu, meaning “fun, amusement,” with the adjective formed from this noun. The pronunciation is typically [ˈlõbusat], with stress on the first syllable; the Estonian õ vowel is a distinct close-mid back unrounded vowel.

Usage notes: lõbusat is common in informal and semi-formal contexts, including spoken language and greeting cards. In very formal writing or speech, speakers may prefer more standard formulas such as “Head jõulupühi” or “Head uut aastat,” though lõbusat forms are widely understood and accepted in everyday Estonian.

See also: lõbu (noun) and lõbus (adjective), terms related to merriment and amusement in Estonian.