pälvinud

Pälvinud is the past active participle of the Estonian verb pälvima, meaning to win, earn or deserve. As an adjective, pälvinud denotes that something has been earned or obtained and is commonly used before a noun, for example pälvinud auhind meaning “an award that has been earned.” It can also be used predicatively, as in Ta on pälvinud auhind, meaning “He has earned an award.”

Etymology and form: The word is derived from the root pälv- with the participial suffix -nud, which marks a completed action in the past. Pälvinud is widely found in formal writing, journalism and literary Estonian, where it adds a sense of merit or deserved outcome.

Usage and nuance: Pälvinud emphasizes merit and entitlement rather than mere possession. It is often preferred when the emphasis is on something that has been earned through effort or achievement, contrasting with terms like võidetud (won in a competition) or saavutatud (achieved). It can appear in singular or plural forms to match the noun it modifies, for example pälvinud auhind or pälvinud preemia, and in phrases like auhinnad, mida ta on pälvinud (“the prizes he has earned”).

Examples:

- Ta on pälvinud auhinna. (He has earned a prize.)

- Ta on pälvinud preemia. (He has earned a reward.)

- Pälvinud auhindade nimekiri avaldati täna. (The list of earned prizes was published today.)

See also: pälvima, pälvinud, pälvimise yhdist.