sportlikud

Sportlikud is the Estonian plural nominative form of the adjective sportlik, meaning sporty or sport-related. The base word sportlik is formed from the noun sport with the suffix -lik, which denotes a characteristic or quality. Therefore, sportlik describes things that pertain to sport, athletic activity, or sportsmanship.

In Estonian, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in number and case. Sportlikud is used before plural nouns in the nominative case, for example sportlikud mängud (sports-related games), sportlikud inimesed (athletic people), and sportlikud sündmused (sport-related events). The form changes in other cases and numbers following standard Estonian adjective declension.

The term is neutral and widely used in everyday language, journalism, and education. It can describe objects and activities (sportlik varustus, sportlik treening) as well as behavioural qualities (sportlikkus, the quality of being sporty).

Origin and related terms: sportlik derives from sport plus the Estonian suffix -lik, a common pattern for forming adjectives meaning “like” or “related to.” The word sport itself is borrowed into Estonian from European languages, notably German and English, and is now a standard part of the vocabulary used to discuss physical activity and competition.

See also: sport; sporditegevus; sportlikkus.