Ülimalt

Ülimalt is an Estonian adverb meaning extremely or to a very high degree. It is used to intensify adjectives, participles, or verbs, signaling a strong degree of a quality or action.

Morphology and usage: The word is formed from the adjective ülim, meaning extreme or ultimate, with the adverbial suffix -lt to produce an adverb. It commonly modifies adjectives and verbs in both written and spoken Estonian. While ülimalt is flexible enough to appear with many words, it is most often found in formal, descriptive, or literary contexts; in everyday speech, people may opt for softer intensifiers such as väga or väga palju.

Examples: See teos on ülimalt huvitav. (This work is extremely interesting.) Ta käitus ülimalt kohusetundlikult. (He behaved extremely conscientiously.) See probleem on ülimalt raske. (This problem is extremely difficult.)

Usage notes: ülimalt emphasizes a high degree and can convey a strong judgment, sometimes with a positive or negative valence depending on context. It tends to appear with adjectives and adverbs that denote measurable or evaluative qualities. To avoid overstating a point in casual speech, speakers might choose milder modifiers like väga or üsna.

See also: Related intensifiers include väga (very), äärmiselt (extremely), and much less common synonyms or stylistic variants in Estonian. The choice among them depends on register, emphasis, and speaker intention.