Numbers with Plural-Only Nouns

Level 5

Ühed püksid means one pair of trousers. With plural-only nouns, the number goes into the plural too.

How It Works

Some Estonian nouns exist only in the plural, even when they name one thing: püksid (trousers), käärid (scissors), prillid (glasses), teksad (jeans) and pulmad (a wedding).

To count them, the number takes the plural too:

  • üks → ühed püksid (one pair of trousers)
  • kaks → kahed käärid (two pairs of scissors)
  • kolm → kolmed pulmad (three weddings)

The number and the noun then go through the cases together: kolmedes pulmades (at three weddings), ühtede prillidega (with one pair of glasses).

An adjective after olema is plural as well, even for one pair: Püksid on mustad. (The trousers are black.) Käärid on nürid. (The scissors are blunt.)

You can also count with paar (pair): paar pükse (a pair of trousers), kolm paari pükse (three pairs of trousers).

The plural ühed has a second use: it can mean some, often next to teised (others): Ühed tulid, teised läksid. (Some came, others left.)

Examples (6)

  1. Mul on ainult ühed korralikud püksid.

    I only have one decent pair of trousers.

    Ühed, korralikud and püksid are all nominative plural.

  2. Ostsin endale kahed prillid: ühed lugemiseks ja teised kaugele vaatamiseks.

    I bought myself two pairs of glasses: one for reading and the other for seeing far away.

    Ühed and teised refer to one pair each.

  3. Sel suvel käisin kolmedes pulmades.

    This summer I went to three weddings.

    Kolmedes and pulmades are both in the inessive plural.

  4. Kas sul on ühed käärid mulle laenata?

    Do you have a pair of scissors to lend me?

    Ühed käärid means one pair of scissors.

  5. Need teksad on liiga pikad.

    These jeans are too long.

    The adjective is plural: pikad.

  6. Ühed ütlevad nii, teised teisiti.

    Some people say one thing, others say another.

    Here ühed means some people.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the singular number with a plural-only noun.

    Mul on ainult üks püksid.
    Mul on ainult ühed püksid.

    Püksid is plural, so the number must be plural too: ühed püksid, kahed püksid.

  • Using a singular adjective because the trousers are one item.

    Mu püksid on must.
    Mu püksid on mustad.

    The adjective follows the plural form of the noun, even when it means one pair.

How It Connects

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

Numbers with Plural-Only NounsLevel 5

Learn This First

Plural-only nouns take plural numbers.

Words in This Pattern

püksidkääridprillidpulmadüks