Partitive Endings
The partitive singular has four shapes: -t (raamatut), -d (maad), -tt (vett) or no ending (maja).
How It Works
The partitive is used for counting, for parts and amounts, and for objects of unfinished actions, so you need it constantly. Its singular comes in four shapes:
- -t: raamat → raamatut, laps → last, inimene → inimest, keel → keelt, uus → uut, auto → autot
- -d: mostly one-syllable words ending in a long vowel or a diphthong: maa → maad, töö → tööd, puu → puud, tee → teed. A few others take it too: tuli → tuld, lumi → lund.
- -tt: a small group: vesi → vett, käsi → kätt, mesi → mett
- no ending: the partitive is just the stem ending in a vowel: maja → maja, isa → isa, tuba → tuba, kool → kooli, jalg → jalga, linn → linna
With no ending, the partitive can look like the genitive. Kooli and linna are spelled the same in both cases, but the partitive is pronounced longer (overlong). Context tells you which case you are reading.
These guides are only rough. Auto ends in a vowel like maja but takes -t. So check the partitive when you learn a word: it is the third key form, as in raamat, raamatu, raamatut.
Examples (6)
- Ma loen raamatut.
I am reading a book.
Raamat takes -t.
- Kas sa tahad vett?
Do you want some water?
Vesi takes -tt: vett.
- Ta teeb tööd.
She is working.
Töö has a long vowel, so it takes -d.
- Mul ei ole autot.
I don't have a car.
Auto takes -t even though it ends in a vowel.
- Ma ostsin kaks leiba.
I bought two loaves of bread.
Leib has a partitive with no ending: leiba.
- Siin on palju lund.
There is a lot of snow here.
Lumi has the irregular partitive lund.
Common Mistakes
Adding -t to every word.
Ma näen majat.Ma näen maja.Maja has a partitive with no ending, so it stays maja.
Using -t after a long vowel.
Ta teeb tööt.Ta teeb tööd.One-syllable words with a long vowel, such as töö, take -d.
Writing a single t in the -tt group.
Kas sa tahad vet?Kas sa tahad vett?Vesi belongs to the small -tt group: vett, like kätt and mett.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The partitive endings are learned from the key forms.
Related Patterns
- Partitive (Part Form)
When to use the partitive case.
Level 1 - Counting Takes the Partitive
Numbers are followed by these partitive forms.
Level 1 - Words Ending in -ne
-ne words always take -st: inimest.
Level 2 - Plural Partitive
The plural partitive is often built from the singular partitive.
Level 2 - Short, Long and Overlong
Length alone can separate a partitive like kooli from the genitive.
Level 1
Practice Partitive Endings in Bubblegum
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