Abstract Nouns (-us, -dus)
Vaba is free, so vabadus is freedom. Tark is wise, so tarkus is wisdom.
How It Works
These suffixes turn adjectives and verbs into nouns.
From adjectives: a quality or state.
- tark → tarkus (wisdom), pikk → pikkus (length), haige → haigus (illness)
- vaba → vabadus (freedom), hea → headus (kindness), vana → vanadus (old age)
From verbs: drop -ma. The noun names the action, one instance of it, its result or a field.
- kirjutama → kirjutus (a piece of writing, an inscription)
- õpetama → õpetus (teaching, a lesson)
- teadma → teadus (science)
- lubama → lubadus (a promise), harima → haridus (education)
A few name a group or a place: valitsus (government), kauplus (shop).
-us or -dus? -us usually replaces the last vowel of the stem: ärata(ma) → äratus, haige → haigus. When the stem cannot lose that vowel, -dus is added instead: vaba → vabadus, harima → haridus. Learn each word as a whole. Occasionally the choice changes the meaning: vanadus is old age, while vanus is age.
Forms. All of these nouns decline alike: vabadus, vabaduse, vabadust; plural vabadused, vabaduste, vabadusi. The case endings go on the -use- stem: vabadusega, hariduses.
-us or -mine? The -mine noun names the activity itself and works for almost every verb: kirjutamine is the act of writing. The -us noun often names a result: kirjutus is what was written.
Examples (6)
- Vabadus on kõige tähtsam.
Freedom is the most important thing.
Vaba + -dus.
- Vanaema tarkus aitas meid palju.
Grandma's wisdom helped us a lot.
Tark + -us.
- Teadus areneb väga kiiresti.
Science is developing very fast.
Teadma → teadus.
- Mis on selle toa pikkus?
What is the length of this room?
Pikk + -us names a measurement.
- Ta andis lubaduse, et tuleb homme.
He promised that he would come tomorrow.
Word by Word: he gave a promise that comes tomorrow
Lubama → lubadus; lubaduse is the genitive object.
- Seinal oli imelik kirjutus.
There was a strange inscription on the wall.
Kirjutus is the result of writing, not the act.
Common Mistakes
Confusing vanadus (old age) with vanus (age).
Vanadus on ainult number.Vanus on ainult number.Vanus is how old someone is; vanadus is the state of being old.
Adding a case ending straight onto -us.
Ma olen oma haridusga rahul.Ma olen oma haridusega rahul.Case endings go on the stem -use-: hariduse, haridusega, hariduses.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Abstract nouns are another derivational suffix.
Related Patterns
- Verbal Noun (-mine)
The -mine noun names the activity itself: kirjutamine vs kirjutus.
Level 3 - Adjectives with -tuWithout Something (-tu)
-tu adjectives give -us nouns: töötu → töötus (unemployment).
Level 4 - Adjectives with -lik and -line
These adjectives take -us too: sõbralik → sõbralikkus.
Level 4 - Adjectives with -ne
-ne adjectives give -sus nouns: vaene → vaesus (poverty).
Level 4 - Key Forms of a Noun
Learn the genitive -use- stem with each -us noun.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Abstract Nouns (-us, -dus) in Bubblegum
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