nõrgalt

Nõrgalt is an Estonian adverb meaning “in a weak, faint, or low‑intensity manner; softly” and is used to describe the manner in which an action is performed, a perception occurs, or a state is expressed. It denotes low intensity rather than a quality inherent to a noun.

The word is formed from the adjective nõrk, meaning weak, with the standard adverbial suffix -lt. This construction places nõrgalt alongside other Estonian manner adverbs such as kergelt (gently) and valjult (loudly). It can modify verbs and, in some cases, participial phrases, to convey how an action takes place or how something is perceived.

Common usage and examples include: hääled kõlasid nõrgalt (the voices sounded faintly), valgus paistis nõrgalt (the light shone weakly), ta naeratas nõrgalt (he/she smiled faintly), või ta räägib nõrgalt (he/she speaks softly). In literary and descriptive contexts, nõrgalt often accents subtlety, reserve, or diminished intensity, rather than physical strength.

Related notions include antonyms such as tugevalt (strongly) and other adverbs denoting intensity, like kergelt (lightly) or valjemalt (more loudly). Nõrgalt is generally distinct from phrases expressing difficulty or forced effort, such as vaevaga or raskelt, which convey effort rather than low amplitude.

In summary, nõrgalt is a common, neutral adverb in Estonian used to indicate slight or subdued manner in actions, perceptions, or expressions, aligning with the broader pattern of -lt adverbs derived from adjectives.