miinimumselt

miinimumselt is an Estonian word that translates to "at least" or "minimally" in English. It is used to indicate a minimum requirement, a lowest possible value, or a smallest amount. The word is formed by combining the Estonian word "miinimum" meaning "minimum" with the superlative suffix "-selt," which indicates a manner or way.

The usage of miinimumselt is versatile. It can be applied in various contexts, such as setting a minimum age for an activity, specifying the least amount of something needed for a task, or describing a minimal effort. For example, one might say "Vähemalt kümme inimest pidi tulema" which means "At least ten people were supposed to come." Another example could be "See nõuab miinimumselt tund aega" translating to "This requires at least an hour."

In formal settings, miinimumselt can be used to define thresholds or standards. In casual conversation, it serves to express a lower bound without necessarily implying an upper limit. The word's grammatical function is typically adverbial, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to specify a minimum degree or quantity. Understanding miinimumselt is crucial for comprehending nuanced expressions in Estonian related to quantity and requirement.