võrdsetele

Võrdsetele is an Estonian grammatical form derived from the adjective võrdne, meaning equal. It is a plural, non-nominative form used with a plural noun in oblique cases, most often the dative/allative. In practice, võrdsetele can be understood as “to the equals” or “to those who are equal,” functioning as an adjective that describes the recipient or beneficiary of an action.

The form is most commonly found in formal, administrative, or legal language, where groups described as being equal in status or standing are addressed or referenced. It appears before a plural noun that is in a non-nominative case and thus marks the relationship to the action described by the verb or sentence.

Examples include:

- Võrdsetele osapooltele esitatakse täiendavad nõuded. (Additional requirements are presented to the equal parties.)

- Võrdsetele klientidele kehtivad sama hinnad. (The same prices apply to the equal clients.)

Etymology and grammar notes:

Võrdsetele is formed from the base võrdne (equal) with a common plural oblique-case ending used with adjectives. This form contrasts with the nominative plural võrdsed inimesed (the equal people) and with other oblique forms for different cases. The exact ending reflects the grammatical role of the phrase in a sentence and is typical of Estonian adjective-inflection patterns.

Overall, võrdsetele is a specialized, context-dependent form that appears primarily in formal or contractual Estonian to refer to groups described as equals.