Adjectives with -kas
Rich in Something (-kas)
Andekas means talented, full of anne (talent). -kas says something has a lot of what the noun names.
How It Works
-kas has two jobs, depending on the word it joins.
1. Noun + -kas = having a lot of it. Use the genitive stem of the noun:
- anne (talent) → ande → andekas (talented)
- mahl (juice) → mahla → mahlakas (juicy)
- edu (success) → edukas (successful)
- jutt (talk) → jutu → jutukas (talkative)
- vaim (wit, spirit) → vaimu → vaimukas (witty)
- kõht (belly) → kõhu → kõhukas (pot-bellied)
2. Adjective + -kas = only a little, -ish. This is common with colours and tastes: punane → punakas (reddish), sinine → sinakas (bluish), hapu → hapukas (slightly sour).
Endings. -kas words lose the -s before endings: andekas, andeka, andekat; plural andekad, andekate, andekaid.
Spelling. Keep the double consonant of the genitive stem: mõte → mõtte → mõttekas (sensible), never mõtekas.
Examples (6)
- Ta on väga andekas muusik.
She is a very talented musician.
Anne → andekas: full of talent.
- Need õunad on magusad ja mahlakad.
These apples are sweet and juicy.
Mahlakas in the plural: mahlakad.
- Meie naaber on jutukas vanaproua.
Our neighbour is a talkative old lady.
Jutt → jutu → jutukas.
- Ta on edukas ettevõtja.
He is a successful business owner.
Edu → edukas.
- Õhtul oli taevas punakas.
In the evening the sky was reddish.
On a colour word, -kas means slightly.
- See jogurt on natuke hapukas.
This yoghurt is a little sourish.
Hapu → hapukas: only slightly sour.
Common Mistakes
Adding the plural partitive ending to the -s form.
Selles koolis on palju andekasid lapsi.Selles koolis on palju andekaid lapsi.-kas words drop the -s before endings: andeka-, so the plural partitive is andekaid.
Losing the double consonant of the stem.
See on mõtekas plaan.See on mõttekas plaan.-kas joins the genitive stem, and mõte has the genitive mõtte. The spelling keeps tt.
How It Connects
Learn This First
-kas is the rich-in counterpart of -tu.
Related Patterns
- Adjectives with -lik and -line
Other common endings that make adjectives from nouns.
Level 4 - Adjectives with -ne
-ne also means full of or made of: vihmane, puidune.
Level 4 - Adjectives with -matu
Another adjective ending that learners meet next to -kas.
Level 4 - Diminutive (-ke)
Another suffix that makes a smaller, softer meaning.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Adjectives with -kas in Bubblegum
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