Fractions and Decimals

Level 4

Kolmandik is a third, pool is a half and poolteist is one and a half. Decimals are written with a comma: 2,5 (kaks koma viis).

How It Works

Fractions with -ndik. Take the ordinal stem and add -ndik:

  • kolmas → kolmandik (a third)
  • neljas → neljandik (a quarter)
  • viies → viiendik (a fifth)
  • kümnes → kümnendik, sajas → sajandik

These are ordinary nouns. After a number they follow the number + partitive rule: kaks kolmandikku. The whole they belong to is often in the elative: kolmandik õpilastest (a third of the students).

Everyday words.

  • pool – half: pool tundi, pool leiba. Genitive poole: poole tunni pärast (in half an hour).
  • veerand – a quarter; kolmveerand – three quarters.
  • poolteist – one and a half: poolteist tundi. Genitive poolteise or pooleteise: pooleteise aasta pärast.

The noun after pool, veerand and poolteist is in the partitive singular, as after other numbers.

Writing numbers. Decimals use a comma, not a point: 2,5 (kaks koma viis). Numbers of five or more digits are grouped in threes with a space: 10 000, 12 500. A point after a number marks an ordinal, as in 3. korrus (the third floor).

Examples (6)

  1. Kolmandik õpilastest elab maal.

    A third of the students live in the country.

    The whole is in the elative: õpilastest.

  2. Ta sõi ära kaks kolmandikku koogist.

    She ate two thirds of the cake.

    After kaks, kolmandik takes the partitive: kolmandikku.

  3. Oota pool tundi.

    Wait half an hour.

    Word by Word: wait half hour-PART

  4. Sõit kestab poolteist tundi.

    The trip takes an hour and a half.

  5. Ostsin 2,5 kilo kartuleid.

    I bought 2.5 kilos of potatoes.

    Read as kaks koma viis kilo.

  6. Auto maksab 12 500 eurot.

    The car costs 12,500 euros.

    A space, not a comma, groups the thousands.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing a decimal point.

    Ostsin 2.5 kilo kartuleid.
    Ostsin 2,5 kilo kartuleid.

    Estonian writes decimals with a comma. A point after a number marks an ordinal or a date.

  • Leaving the fraction in the nominative after a number.

    Ta sõi ära kaks kolmandik koogist.
    Ta sõi ära kaks kolmandikku koogist.

    After a number, the noun is in the partitive singular: kolmandikku.

  • Using the nominative after pool.

    Oota pool tund.
    Oota pool tundi.

    pool works like a number, so the noun after it is in the partitive: tundi.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Fractions and DecimalsLevel 4

Learn This First

Fractions add -ndik to the ordinal stem.

Words in This Pattern

poolveerandpoolteist