Üleujutustele

Üleujutustele is an Estonian linguistic form that denotes the allative plural of the noun ülevujutus (inundation, flooding). As an allative, it marks direction toward something, typically translated as “to the floods” or “to flood events” in English, and is used within noun phrases or sentences that require signaling movement toward or focus on flood-related phenomena.

Morphology and formation. The base noun üleujutus refers to the occurrence of flooding. The word üleujutustele is formed by combining the plural allative ending -ustele with the stem üleujutus, indicating multiple flood events directed toward or addressed in discourse. In standard Estonian grammar, the allative case is used to express direction toward a noun or topic, and -ustele signals plurality in that direction.

Usage. Üleujutustele appears most often in formal or technical texts, such as meteorological reports, hydrological studies, legal documents concerning flood management, and academic discussions of flood phenomena. It is not a common item in everyday speech, where speakers more often use singular forms or other constructions to refer to floods in general. When used, it functions as a topical or directional marker within the broader sentence structure.

Etymology. The term combines the prefix üle- (over, above) with the root related to flooding, üjutus or üjus, depending on historical derivations, and culminates in the plural allative ending -ustele, signaling multiple flood events directed toward or addressed in discourse.

See also. üleujutus (flooding, inundation); Estonian grammar, allative case; flood terminology in hydrology.