misjärel

Misjärel is an Estonian relative conjunction used to introduce a subordinate clause that describes what happened after a preceding event or state. It conveys a temporal sequence, roughly translating to “after which” in English. The form is considered formal and is more common in written Estonian, particularly in historical, legal, or literary contexts.

Etymology and form: Misjärel appears as a fused compound of the relative pronoun mis and the postposition/element jälkeen meaning after. In usage, it links a main clause or a noun phrase with a following clause that records subsequent actions or results. The construction emphasizes causality or succession tied to the antecedent event.

Usage and style: In contemporary Estonian, misjärel is chiefly found in formal prose. It tends to replace plainer phrases such as pärast mida or mille järel in contexts where a precise, slightly elevated register is desired. Its use can mark a shift in time from the antecedent to the ensuing developments, and it can govern verbs in various tenses depending on the sequence described.

Examples:

- Sündmus lõppes, misjärel järgnes rahvahääletus. Translation: The event ended, after which a plebiscite followed.

- Lepingu sõlmimine tähistas uue etappi, misjärel ettevõtted hakkasid investeerima. Translation: The signing of the contract marked a new phase, after which the companies began investing.

See also: Misjärel is part of a family of temporal relative constructions in Estonian, including after which variants such as pärast mida and mille järel. These expressions share a function of signaling subsequent action related to a prior clause.