päev

Päev is the Estonian noun meaning the 24-hour period that runs from midnight to midnight, and, in common usage, also the daylight portion of that period. In everyday language the word is often linked to the day’s daylight hours, with night (öö) referring to the dark portion. In calendar and timekeeping contexts, päevi are counted and described by dates, such as “täna” (today) or “homne päev” (tomorrow).

Etymology and related forms: pä e v shares a high degree of similarity with the Finnish word päivä, and with cognates in other Finnic languages. The term is traced to Proto-Finnic roots related to the concept of daylight. In Estonian the word inflects according to case and number, for example: päeva (genitive), päeva (also genitive), päevad (plural). The genitive form is common in many expressions, such as “päeva lõpus” (at the end of the day) or “pool päeva” (half a day).

Timekeeping and seasonal variation: A civil day is 24 hours long on average, though the exact length of daylight within a day varies with the seasons. Estonia experiences long days in summer and short days in winter due to its northern latitude. The country observes daylight saving time, advancing clocks by one hour in spring and returning in autumn, which shifts the distribution of daylight hours to suit local time conventions.

Cultural usage: Päev appears in everyday phrases about dates, schedules, and life events, and it is used in both literal and metaphorical senses, such as planning for the day or reflecting on what a day has brought.