sügavaks

Sügavaks is the translative form of the Estonian adjective sügav, meaning deep. In Estonian grammar, the translative case is used to indicate a change of state, so sügavaks expresses becoming deep, profound, or deeply developed rather than simply being deep at a moment.

In usage, sügavaks typically follows verbs of becoming, such as muutuma (to become). The combination conveys that something changes into a deeper or more profound condition. For example, Mõte muutus sügavaks. (The thought became deep/profound.) The form can also be used in a broader sense to denote a transition to greater depth, whether literal or metaphorical.

Semantically, sügavaks covers both physical depth and figurative depth, including depth of meaning, understanding, or emotion. In literary and formal Estonian, sügavaks may appear in phrases that describe a shift toward greater complexity, seriousness, or intensity, often contributing to a mood or atmosphere in a text.

Related forms include the base adjective sügav (deep) and the noun sügavus (depth). The translative form is part of a broader set of Estonian translative endings such as -seks and -kaks, which signal changes of state in similar constructions.

See also: sügav, sügavus, translatiiv, change of state in Estonian grammar.