väljasurnud

Väljasurnud is an Estonian word that translates to "extinct" in English. It is used to describe species, languages, or phenomena that have ceased to exist. In biological contexts, it refers to organisms whose populations have died out completely. This can be due to various factors, including habitat loss, climate change, disease, or overhunting. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a Red List that categorizes species based on their conservation status, with "extinct" being the highest and most severe category.

The concept of extinction is not limited to the natural world. Languages can also become extinct when their last native speakers die without passing the language on to younger generations. This loss of linguistic diversity is often seen as a cultural tragedy, as it represents the disappearance of unique ways of thinking and expressing the world. Similarly, historical events or social practices can be described as extinct if they no longer occur or exist in their original form. The term "väljasurnud" thus encompasses a broad range of endings, signifying the complete absence of something that once was.