ütlus

ütlus (pronounced [ˈytlus]) is an Estonian noun meaning a spoken or written statement, utterance, or saying. It derives from the verb ütlema ("to say") and is used broadly to denote any expressed remark, assertion, or short expression of thought.

In everyday language, ütlus commonly appears in phrases referring to someone's remark or testimony (for example, "tema ütlus" — "his/her statement"). It can also describe succinct expressions that convey general truths or opinions, and is sometimes used in contexts discussing proverbs, maxims, or notable quotes, although specific terms like vanasõna (proverb) are more precise for traditional sayings.

In linguistics and discourse studies, ütlus corresponds to the concept of an utterance: a unit of speech produced in a particular context and situation. Analyses of ütlused (plural) focus on pragmatic aspects such as speaker intent, illocutionary force, and the relationship between form and function in communication. The term is relevant to fields including pragmatics, conversation analysis, folklore, and literary criticism when examining how statements function within social interaction or texts.

Grammatically, ütlus follows standard Estonian noun inflection patterns (genitive ütluse, partitive ütlust). Its usage reflects both formal and informal registers and is neutral in tone.