nimetatavad

Nimetatavad is an Estonian term used primarily in linguistic and philosophical discussions to describe objects or concepts that can be given a name within a language. It is formed from the verb nimetama (to name) with the derivational suffix -atav, which indicates potential or capability, and the plural ending -vad, yielding a plural adjective meaning “the nameable ones” or “things that can be named.” The word is not common in everyday speech but appears in academic writing, glossaries, and theoretical contexts dealing with naming, designation, and categorization.

In usage, nimetatavad helps speakers and writers distinguish referents that can be labeled with a name from those that resist naming due to vagueness, novelty, or lack of consensus. The term therefore functions as a descriptive label in discussions about semantics, ontology, and taxonomy, rather than as a prescriptive rule of language.

Examples of phrases include nimetatavad nähtused (“nameable phenomena”) and nimetatavad kategooriad (“nameable categories”). The construction is versatile and can modify various plural nouns across domains such as science, philosophy, and technology.

See also: nimetama, nimetus, nimetak.