üksikeste

Üksikeste is the Estonian word form derived from the adjective and noun üksik, meaning solitary or lone. In Estonian grammar, this form appears in cases such as the genitive plural and is used when referring to a group possessed by or associated with loners. As a result, üksikeste commonly translates to “of the loners” or “the loners’,” depending on the sentence.

The base word üksik can function both as an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it describes things that are solitary or single; as a noun, it can refer to a solitary person or a loner. The form üksikeste is most often seen in phrases that indicate belonging, quantity, or association with loners, such as in sociological or literary contexts. In everyday Estonian, you are more likely to encounter the word in written text rather than spoken speech.

Usage and context vary: it can appear in academic writing discussing loneliness or social isolation, as well as in journalism or fiction when portraying groups of solitary individuals. The exact interpretation depends on the surrounding words and the case being used.

See also: üksik, loneliness in Estonian literature, sociolinguistics in Estonian.

Note: As with many Estonian inflected forms, the precise meaning of üksikeste arises from its syntactic role in a sentence and its relationship to the nouns it modifies or relates to.