nõrgemalt

Nõrgemalt is an Estonian adverb meaning "more weakly" or "more softly." It describes the manner or degree of an action, indicating reduced force, intensity, or volume. The word is used when someone or something performs an action with less strength, sound, or energy than usual.

Origin and formation: The adverb is formed from the adjective nõrk (weak) with its comparative form nõrgem and the standard adverbial suffix -alt, yielding nõrgemalt. This pattern mirrors other Estonian adverbs of manner such as kergelt (lightly) or vaiksemalt (more quietly).

Usage: Nõrgemalt is common in everyday speech, journalism, and literature when one wants to emphasize gentleness, restraint, or diminished intensity. It typically modifies verbs and expresses how something is done rather than what is described. For example: Palun räägi nõrgemalt. (Please speak more softly.) Tuul puhus nõrgemalt kui eile. (The wind blew less strongly than yesterday.) Ta vastas nõrgemalt ja naeratas. (She/He answered more softly and smiled.)

See also: Related terms include nõrk (weak) and related adverbs such as vaiksemalt (quieter). Nõrgemalt is a standard part of Estonian vocabulary and is used across formal and informal contexts to convey a softer or weaker manner.