teisepärvid

Teisepärvid is a term that appears in historical Estonian folklore and linguistics, often referring to a concept related to duality or the "other." The exact meaning and usage of the word can vary depending on the context of the historical text or oral tradition it originates from. It is not a commonly used word in modern Estonian.

In some interpretations, "teisepärvid" may relate to the idea of an alter ego or a secondary self, suggesting a hidden or parallel aspect of an individual's identity. This could be connected to concepts of spirit possession, shamanistic practices, or even psychological states described through older, metaphorical language.

Linguistic analysis suggests "teisepärvid" is a compound word. "Teine" means "other" or "second," while "pärvid" or "pärised" can relate to "real," "genuine," or "ancestral." Therefore, the term could be understood as "other real ones" or "genuine others," hinting at beings or entities that exist alongside or in contrast to the ordinary human world.

The term is found in older ethnographic collections and etymological dictionaries, indicating its existence in the historical lexicon of the Estonian language. However, due to its rarity and the passage of time, a definitive and universally accepted definition remains elusive. Its study offers a glimpse into the historical worldview and the ways in which ancient Estonians conceptualized existence and identity beyond the immediately observable.