omistussõnast

Omistussõnast is an Estonian grammatical term that translates to "possessive word" or "genitive word". It refers to a word that expresses possession or belonging, typically through the genitive case. In Estonian, possession is most commonly indicated by the genitive case of a noun or pronoun. For example, "maja" (house) in the genitive case becomes "maja" (of the house), and when used possessively, it would be "minu maja" (my house), where "minu" is a possessive pronoun in the genitive form.

The concept of omistussõnast encompasses not only explicit possessive pronouns like "minu" (my), "sinu" (your), "tema" (his/her), "meie" (our), "teie" (your plural), and "nende" (their) but also nouns in the genitive case used to show ownership. For instance, in the phrase "õpetaja raamat" (the teacher's book), "õpetaja" is in the genitive case and functions as an omistussõnast, indicating that the book belongs to the teacher.

Understanding omistussõnast is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences in Estonian that clearly denote ownership or relationship. It is a fundamental aspect of Estonian grammar, enabling precise expression of who or what something belongs to. The genitive case is the primary grammatical tool employed for this purpose, making the genitive form of words inherently linked to the concept of omistussõnast.