pöhiliseks

Põhiliseks is the translative singular form of the Estonian adjective põhiline, meaning main, primary, or essential. In Estonian grammar, adjectives decline for case and number, and the translative form is created with the suffix -ks, giving põhhiliseks. The form is used to designate or signify a state into which something is becoming or to describe a role or designation.

Põhiliseks commonly appears in phrases that express transformation into a role or status or to specify the main quality of something. Typical collocations include pöhiliseks eesmärgiks (as the main objective) and põhiliseks ülesandeks (as the main task). For example, a sentence such as "Põhiliseks eesmärgiks on tagada ohutus" translates as "The main objective is to ensure safety." The construction is widely found in formal, administrative, and academic Estonian.

Morphology and usage notes: as a grammatical form, põhhiliseks aligns with the noun it accompanies in the translative case, and there are plural equivalents such as põhili seks with nouns in the plural translative (põhilisteks). The form is not a separate lexical entry; it is a specific inflected form of põhiline used in predicative and noun-modifying positions.

Etymology: põhiline derives from põh- meaning base or core, with the suffix -line to form an adjective meaning “pertaining to the base/central.” The translative form põhhiliseks inherits this meaning when indicating transformation into the main or essential state.

See also: põhiline, translatiiv, Estonian grammar.