ostjate

Ostjate is the genitive plural form of the Estonian noun ostja, meaning "buyer." It is used to indicate possession or association with buyers, for example in phrases such as ostjate arv (the number of buyers) and ostjate õigused (the buyers' rights). The nominative plural of ostja is ostjad, referring to multiple buyers as the subject of a sentence. As a genitive form, ostjate typically appears in noun phrases that modify another noun or express ownership or relationship.

The word is formed from the root ostja, which is an agent noun meaning "one who buys," combined with the genitive plural ending -te. The use of ostjate is grammatical rather than representing a separate semantic category; it designates the group in possessive or relational contexts rather than standing alone as a standalone noun.

In usage, ostjate is common in business, market research, contracts, and statistics where the group of buyers is referenced. For example: "Ostjate arv on kasvanud" (The number of buyers has grown); "Ostjate õigused tuleb tagada" (The buyers' rights must be protected).

See also: ostja; ostma; ostjad.