Decode Estonian

Decode Estonian

Share this post

Decode Estonian
Decode Estonian
Grammar: Translative - cases for states of being
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Grammar: Translative - cases for states of being

The Translative expresses becoming something or being used for a specific purpose

Sep 04, 2023
∙ Paid

Share this post

Decode Estonian
Decode Estonian
Grammar: Translative - cases for states of being
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

There is another convenient group of three cases, following the “towards”/”at”/”away from” logic:

  • the “Translative” (Estonian: “saav” - “becoming”): turning into something or indicating the purpose of something,

  • the “Essive” (Estonian: “olev” - “being”): static position on top of or next to a surface,

  • the “Exessive” (Estonian: “eksessiiv”): “leaving” a state of being. NB! this case is extinct and listed here only to show the logic of the case system.

Formal grammars don’t group these three cases, mainly because the Exessive case died out a couple of centuries ago and is now only preserved in two Estonian words: kodunt and tagant - as well as in a Finnish dialect.

In this article, we’re taking a detailed look at the Translative case 👇

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Decode Estonian to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Dario Hamidi
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More