tüdruk

Tüdruk is the standard Estonian noun meaning girl, a female child or a young woman. In everyday speech it refers to a girl or young woman in a casual way. In more formal contexts or when addressing older women, terms such as naine or daam are preferred. The word is also used as a direct form of address to a younger person, for example, “Tüdruk, tule siia!”

Etymology: The word belongs to native Estonian vocabulary and is cognate with Finnish tyttö, reflecting shared Proto-Finnic roots. Similar forms appear in other Finnic languages, indicating a common ancestry for the term across the region.

Declension: Tüdruk is a feminine noun that declines as in standard Estonian. Common forms include: nominative singular tüdruk; genitive singular tüdruku; partitive singular tüdrukut; nominative plural tüdrukud; genitive plural tüdrukute; partitive plural tüdrukuid.

Examples: “Tüdrukud mängivad väljas.” “See tüdruk on mu klassiõde.” The word can describe girls of various ages in everyday contexts, while more formal references to adult women typically use naine or daam.

See also: neiu, naine.