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Estonian/Nouns
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Käänded
In Estonian, each noun and adjective declines into different forms to fit a particular case. Each case has a particular meaning. When combined, the suffixes for the last four cases form the word "ninataga" (behind the nose). Here is a full list of the 14 cases used in Estonian with examples in singular:
#Name (eng)Name (est)Example noun (singular)Question(inanimate)Example adjective (singular)QuestionPositionalNon-PositionalDerived fromINominativeNimetav (naming)see (this)mis?selline (like this)missugune?milline? - subject -IIGenitiveOmastav (owning)sellemille?sellisemissuguse?millise? - having-determinerwhole -IIIPartitiveOsastav (partitive)sedamida?sellistmissugust?millist? - direct objectpartitive -IVIllativeSisseütlev (into-saying)sellessemillesse?sellisessemissugusesse?millisesse? into - IIVInessiveSeesütlev (in-saying)sellesmilles?sellisesmissuguses?millises? in - IIVIElativeSeestütlev (out-of-saying)sellestmillest?sellisestmissugusest?millisest? out of - IIVIIAllativeAlaleütlev (onto-field-saying)sellelemillele?selliselemissugusele?millisele? onto dative/giving IIVIIIAdessiveAlalütlev (on-field-saying)sellelmillel?selliselmissugusel?millisel? on having IIIXAblativeAlaltütlev (off-of-field-saying)selleltmillelt?selliseltmissuguselt?milliselt? off of taking IIXTranslativeSaav (becoming)selleksmilleks?selliseksmilliseks?missuguseks? - - IIXITerminativeRajav (establishing)sellenimilleni?sellisenimissuguseni?milliseni? up to/until - IIXIIEssiveOlev (being)sellenamillena?sellisenamissugusena?millisena? as - IIXIIIAbessiveIlmaütlev (without-saying)selletamilleta?sellisetamissuguseta?milliseta? without - IIXIVComitativeKaasaütlev (with-saying)sellegamillega?sellisegamissugusega?millisega? with - II
Some examples:
EnglishNominativeGenitivePartitivethisseesellesedahomekodukodukoduhousemajamajamajacurtainkardinkardinakardinatmachinemasinmasinamasinatbookraamatraamaturaamatutdogkoerkoera.koeracatkasskassi.kassiI/meminaminu.mindyou (singular)sinasinu.sindhim/hertematemateda
The last two provide an example of the Estonian Long and Overlong "quantities" or "stress". The syllables that are Overlong are marked with a dot. In Estonian, the stress in a word is usually on the first syllable. The stress on Overlong words is required (but not always incomprehensible to the listener), and the overlong syllable can be stretched 'forever' while Long syllables cannot.
.kassi can be stretched easily from the ss without becoming incomprehensible. .koera can be stretched from the e, or the oe diphtong, although the latter might be more difficult for the listener (and the speaker). Not all partitive cases infer the Overlong quantity, and this makes Estonian cases for each word more difficult to remember. The last 3 words in the table are the singular pronouns - two of these are Overlong but have only one syllable.
Examples
Nimetav
See sinine auto on minu (oma)
This blue car is mine
See uus kell oli kallis
This new clock was expensive
Omastav
Selle sinise auto aken on katki
The window of this blue car is broken
Uue kella patareid on tühjad
The batteries of the new clock are empty
Osastav
Ma tahan seda sinist autot
I want that blue car
Ma vajan uut kella
I need a new clock
Sisseütlev
Nad murdsid sinisesse autosse sisse
They broke into the blue car
Uude kella on vaja patareisid
New batteries are needed into the new clock
Seesütlev
Sinises autos on valge koer
There is a white dog in a blue car
Uues kellas on nüüd patareid
There are now batteries in the new clock
Seestütlev
Kaks meest väljusid sinisest autost
Two men came out from the blue car
Uuest kellast tulevad veidrad helid
Weird noises are coming from the new clock
Alaleütlev
Pane see kleebis sinisele autole
Put that sticker onto the blue car
Ära joonista midagi uuele kellale
Don't draw anything onto the new clock
Alalütlev
Sinisel autol on värviline kleebis
There is a colorful sticker on the blue car
Uuel kellal on juba tolm
On the new clock already has dust
Alaltütlev
Eemalda see kleebis siniselt autolt
Remove this sticker from the blue car
Pühi tolm uuelt kellalt
Wipe the dust from the new clock
Saav
Kas sa saad selle autoks muuta?
Can you turn this into a car?
Rajav
Ma saadan sind su autoni
I will accompany you to your car
Olev
Sa võid kasutada seda autona
You can use it as a car
Ilmaütlev
Nüüdsest olen autota
From now on I am without a car
Kaasaütlev
Mida sa teed minu autoga?
What are you doing with my car?