vähempi

Vähempi is a comparative form in the Estonian language derived from the adjective and adverb vähe, meaning “little” or “few.” It conveys that something has a lesser amount, degree, or extent relative to another item. The form is used to indicate that one quantity or attribute is smaller or reduced in comparison, and it appears in both descriptive and evaluative statements.

In usage, vähempi tends to be found in more formal or written contexts. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer other expressions of comparison such as adverbial forms or alternative adjectives depending on context. For size or dimension, other forms like väiksem are commonly used, while vähempi is more aligned with comparisons of amount or degree rather than physical scale.

Etymologically, vähempi is built from vähe with a comparative suffix, following a pattern in Estonian where stems acquire forms to express lesser degree or quantity. It is part of the broader system of Estonian degree expressions, which includes the base word vähe and related forms used in various registers and structures.

The term is attestable in standard Estonian and occurs in literary, academic, and formal writing, as well as in dialectal usage to varying extents. It is primarily a tool for comparing two or more entities in terms of quantity or extent, rather than a general synonym for all senses of “less.”

See also: vähe, vähem, väiksem, comparative forms in Estonian.