Lying and Kneeling (-li)

Level 5

Ta magab selili means She sleeps on her back. Selili comes from selg (back), and -li makes it a position word.

How It Works

Adverbs with -li describe the position of a body or an object. Many come from words for body parts:

  • selili (from selg, back): on one's back
  • kõhuli (from kõht, stomach): on one's stomach
  • külili (from külg, side): on one's side
  • põlvili (from põlv, knee): on one's knees
  • pikali: lying down, stretched out
  • kummuli: upside down, overturned

One form for where and where to. Case words need different endings for where (inessive) and where to (illative). A -li adverb stays the same:

  • Ta lamab selili. (She is lying on her back.)
  • Ta keeras end selili. (She turned onto her back.)
  • Ta palvetab põlvili. (He prays on his knees.) Laps kukkus põlvili. (The child fell to his knees.)

No endings. These adverbs never change their form, so never add -sse or -s to them.

Variants. Some have a second form: selili or seljali, külili or küljeli.

A related pattern. Adverbs with -kil and -kile also describe positions, but they split where and where to: Laps on käpakil. (The child is on all fours.) Laps laskus käpakile. (The child got down on all fours.)

The same suffix appears in other state words too: laiali (scattered), pooleli (unfinished), siruli (stretched out).

Examples (6)

  1. Beebi peab magama selili.

    A baby should sleep on its back.

  2. Ta heitis kõhuli ja luges raamatut.

    She lay down on her stomach and read a book.

    Kõhuli says where she went. The same word would also say where she was lying.

  3. Poiss libises jääl ja kukkus põlvili.

    The boy slipped on the ice and fell to his knees.

  4. Ma ei saa külili magada, sest õlg valutab.

    I can't sleep on my side because my shoulder hurts.

  5. Paat läks tormis kummuli.

    The boat capsized in the storm.

    Word by Word: boat went in-storm upside-down

  6. Heida pikali ja puhka natuke.

    Lie down and rest a little.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a case ending to a -li adverb.

    Ta keeras end selilisse.
    Ta keeras end selili.

    A -li adverb never takes an ending. Selili already covers moving into the position.

  • Using the where form of a -kil adverb for movement.

    Laps laskus käpakil.
    Laps laskus käpakile.

    Intended meaning: The child got down on all fours. Unlike -li adverbs, -kil words split the two: käpakil is where you are, käpakile is where you go.

How It Connects

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

Lying and Kneeling (-li)Level 5

Learn This First

-li adverbs are manner adverbs.

Words in This Pattern

selilipõlvilikõhulikülilipikali