Diminutives in Estonian
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeA diminutive is a form of a word which indicates diminished size. E.g cigar -> cigaterre, pig -> piglet etc.
Diminutives are used quite often in Estonian, especially by children and in folk songs and poetry. This form also shows a bit of affection towards the object as with dog -> doggy, kitten -> kitty etc.
Lesson outline
HideDiminutive form of nouns
In Estonian the diminutive form is obtained by adding the ending -ke or -kene to the genitive singular. Both of them have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably.
| Nominative Singular | English | Genitive Singular | Diminutive form |
|---|---|---|---|
| laps | child | lapse | lapseke(ne) |
| kiisu | kitten | kiisu | kiisuke(ne) |
| ema | mother | ema | emake(ne) |
- Ära nuta, lapseke! --- Don't cry, little child!
- Ma armastan sind, kallis emake! --- I love you, dear mother!
- Kuidas sul läheb, pojake? --- How are you, little son?
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Diana B. 
Martin L.
Olga T.
Diminutive form of adjectives
An adjective standing alone can also take on a diminutive ending.
E.g Mu armsake --- My dear little one (nom. sing. armas 'dear', gen. sing. armsa)
When an adjective modifies a noun which has a diminutive ending, then the adjective does not take on such a suffix.
E.g Mu armas pojake --- My dear little son (not: mu armsake pojake)