õpetajate

Õpetajate is the genitive plural form of the Estonian noun õpetaja, meaning teacher. It is used to express possession or association with teachers, similar to the English "of teachers" or "teachers’." The genitive plural ending is -ate, a characteristic pattern for feminine agent nouns formed with the suffix -ja.

In usage, õpetajate often appears in noun phrases that describe something relating to or belonging to teachers. For example, õpetajate töö means the work of teachers, õpetajate nõuanded means the teachers’ advice, and the phrase õpetajate päev refers to Teachers’ Day in Estonia. The form can also function as a qualifier before another noun in the genitive, as in õpetajate kool, interpreted as the teachers’ college or school for teachers, depending on context.

Grammatically, forming the genitive plural involves removing the base final -a from õpetaja and adding -ate, yielding õpetajate. This pattern is common among Estonian -aja/-aja derived nouns, and it contrasts with the nominative plural õpetajad (teachers) and the partitive plural õpetajaid (teachers).

The term is widely used in educational, administrative, and cultural contexts. It appears in official texts, discussions of teacher-related issues, and events such as Teachers’ Day (Õpetajate päev), celebrated in Estonia to honor educational professionals.

See also: Estonian language grammar, Estonian nouns and cases, õpetaja (teacher), sõnavara related to education.

Note: The article focuses on the linguistic form and typical usage of õpetajate as a genitive plural, rather than on individual teachers or specific institutions.