peremees

Peremees is an Estonian noun meaning the master or owner of a house, farm, estate, or business; the person in charge of a household’s operations. The term typically denotes authority and responsibility for property, staff or tenants, and resources. It is commonly used in rural contexts and in historical or literary language. The feminine counterpart is perenaine; the plural form is peremehed, with genitive peremehe and plural genitive peremeeste.

Etymology and origin: The word is formed from pere meaning “family” and mees meaning “man,” conveying the sense of the man who heads the household. It has been attested since earlier periods of Estonian and remains in use with a somewhat archaic or rural flavor in modern language.

Usage and context: In contemporary Estonian, peremees is most often found in phrases such as talu peremees (master of the farm) or in historical and literary texts describing property owners or managers. In everyday urban speech it is less common but understood. The term can carry connotations of responsibility for the well-being of the household, workers, tenants, and the property under management.

See also: perenaine, talu, mõis, landowner.