sõltvalt

Sõltvalt is an Estonian adverb that expresses dependency or conditionality, equivalent to “depending on” or “contingent on” in English. It is used to indicate that the truth or outcome of a statement depends on a particular factor. The construction is typically followed by a noun phrase in the genitive case that names the condition, for instance faktidest or olukorrast.

In practice, sõltvalt is most common in written Estonian and is often found in formal, technical, or administrative contexts. It is related to other expressions of conditional dependence such as olenevalt and vastavalt, with olenevalt being the more common everyday equivalent. Sõltvalt can often be seen as a more formal or precise alternative to these synonyms, depending on the register of the text.

Etymology and form: Sõltvalt derives from the adjective sõltuv (dependent) plus the adverbial suffix -lt, forming an adverb that modifies the following noun phrase to express dependence. It does not function as a separate preposition; rather, it combines with a following nominal phrase to stipulate the conditioning factor.

Examples illustrate its usage: Sõltvalt olukorrast tuleb otsus langetada. Sõltvalt faktidest võivad tulemused erineda. These sentences show how the word introduces conditions that influence actions or interpretations. In everyday speech, speakers may opt for olenevalt or vastavalt, but sõltvalt remains a clear and accepted option in Estonian.