lõpude

Lõpude is an Estonian morphological form most commonly recognized as the genitive plural of the noun lõpp, which means "end" or "finish." In this form, lõpude expresses possession, association or relationship for multiple "ends," and is used where English would use "of the ends" or similar constructions.

In Estonian grammar lõpude arises through regular inflectional processes: the base noun lõpp appears in the nominative singular, and through pluralization and case marking yields forms such as lõpud (nominative plural) and lõpude (genitive plural). The form is used in possessive constructions, after certain postpositions, and in compound phrases to indicate that something belongs to or concerns several ends or endings.

Typical collocations include phrases like "lõpude arv" (the number of ends) and "lõpude uurimine" (the study of endings). In literature and everyday language the form appears when discussing multiple conclusions, termini, or the ends of physical objects, processes and narratives.

Outside strict grammatical use lõpude can appear in names, titles or poetic contexts where plural possession or relation is intended. Its use follows the broader rules of Estonian declension and consonant gradation.