võtmetele

Võtmetele is the Estonian allative plural form of the noun võti (key), meaning “to the keys.” It represents the direction toward multiple keys and is part of the Estonian case system. The form is used in formal and written language to indicate movement toward or targeting of the keys.

Morphology and formation: The allative plural is formed by taking the genitive plural stem võtmete (of the keys) and adding the allative suffix -le, yielding võtmetele. The corresponding singular allative is võtmele (to the key). The nominative plural is võtmed, while the genitive plural remains võtmete. This pattern—stem plus case suffix—illustrates how Estonian marks direction and destination across number forms.

Usage: The allative serves to express direction toward a destination, recipient, or target in Estonian. In plural form, võtmetele is used when referring to multiple keys as the destination or beneficiaries of an action, particularly in written or more careful speech. In everyday speech, speakers may rephrase to avoid less formal constructions, but võtmetele remains a standard inflected form in grammars and dictionaries.

See also: Estonian language; Estonian grammar; allative case; noun declensions in Estonian.

Notes: Võtmetele exemplifies how Estonian combines stem changes with suffixes to convey number and case. Studying these forms helps in understanding both regular patterns and exceptions within Estonian noun inflection.