tõttu

Tõttu is a postpositional marker in the Estonian language that marks causation, roughly corresponding to the English phrases “due to” or “because of.” It is attached to a preceding noun in the genitive case to form a phrase that indicates the cause of an event or situation.

In use, the usual pattern is a noun in the genitive followed by سبب handling by the postposition tõttu. For example, tuule tõttu means “due to the wind,” and haiguse tõttu means “because of illness.” These constructions are common in both formal and written Estonian and can appear in news reporting, academic writing, and other formal registers.

Tõttu can convey reasons that are external or circumstance-based, as opposed to internal conclusions conveyed by words like seetõttu (therefore) or selle tõttu (for this reason). In everyday speech, speakers may opt for synonyms such as seetõttu or selle tõttu, depending on tone and emphasis.

Phonologically and grammatically, tÖükäi influences the noun with the genitive case of the cause noun, and it does not carry its own inflection beyond the surrounding phrase. It remains relatively stable across contexts, unlike some other case forms that vary with sentence structure.

See also: Estonian grammar, postpositions, expression of causation in Estonian.

Note: This article describes tõttu as used in standard Estonian; regional varieties or contemporary colloquial usage may show subtle variations in preference and form.