regulaarse

Regulaarse is the genitive singular form of the Estonian adjective regulaarne, which means “regular” or “systematic.” In Estonian, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in case and number, so when the noun is in the genitive singular, the attributive adjective takes the ending -se, producing regulaarse. This form appears in phrases such as regulaarse kontrolli all (under regular control) or regulaarse graafiku järgi (according to a regular schedule).

Etymology and form: The adjective regulaarne shares its root with words meaning regular across European languages, often traced to Latin regulāris. In Estonian, it is formed with the common adjective suffix -ne, and the genitive singular shifts to regulaarse.

Usage and nuance: Regulaarse describes things that occur at regular intervals, follow a routine, or adhere to a standard pattern. It is commonly used in formal and written contexts, including technical or procedural language. It can sometimes be closely related to korrapärane, which also conveys regularity or order, though korrapärane more strongly emphasizes orderly consistency rather than frequency—context often guides the preferred choice.

Examples:

- regulaarse kontrolli all (under regular control)

- regulaarse graafiku järgi (according to a regular schedule)

See also: regulaarne, korrapärane, Estonian grammar, adjective declension.

Regulaarse, as a grammatical form, illustrates how Estonian adjectives inflect to agree with their nouns in case, enabling precise expression of relationships such as possession, description, and modality in the genitive context.