Translative (-ks)
Add -ks to the genitive stem to say what something turns into: arst → arsti → arstiks.
How It Works
The translative is formed from the genitive singular + -ks: arst → arsti → arstiks, külm → külma → külmaks, reede → reede → reedeks. In the plural it is -deks/-teks: sõbrad → sõpradeks. An adjective before the noun agrees with it: headeks sõpradeks.
Main uses:
- Becoming or changing: Ta sai arstiks. (She became a doctor.) Ilm läks külmaks. (The weather turned cold.) Ma sain eile kolmekümneaastaseks. (I turned thirty yesterday.)
- Purpose: Mida sa sünnipäevaks tahad? (What do you want for your birthday?)
- A deadline: Töö peab olema valmis reedeks. (The work must be ready by Friday.)
- A planned length of time: Ma sõidan nädalaks Soome. (I am going to Finland for a week.)
Do not mix up a deadline with "until": reedeks means by Friday, while reedeni (terminative) means until Friday. For a role someone has, such as working as a teacher, standard Estonian usually prefers the essive: Ta töötab õpetajana.
Examples (6)
- Ta sai arstiks.
She became a doctor.
Word by Word: she got doctor-into
Saama + translative means "to become".
- Ilm läks külmaks.
The weather turned cold.
Minema + translative describes a change of state.
- Mida sa sünnipäevaks tahad?
What do you want for your birthday?
The translative marks a purpose or occasion.
- Töö peab olema valmis reedeks.
The work must be ready by Friday.
Reedeks sets a deadline.
- Ma sõidan nädalaks Soome.
I am going to Finland for a week.
Nädalaks gives the planned length of the stay.
- Nad said headeks sõpradeks.
They became good friends.
In the plural the ending is -deks, and the adjective agrees.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the new role in the nominative after saama.
Ta sai õpetaja.Ta sai õpetajaks.To say what someone becomes, saama needs the translative. Ta sai õpetaja means something else: She got a teacher.
Using "until" (-ni) for a deadline.
Töö peab olema valmis reedeni.Töö peab olema valmis reedeks.A deadline ("by Friday") takes the translative. The terminative reedeni means "until Friday", which does not fit here.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The translative adds -ks to the genitive stem.
Related Patterns
- saamaThe Many Uses of Saama
Saama + translative is the usual way to say "become".
Level 3 - jäämaStaying and Becoming (Jääma)
Jääma + translative says someone falls into or stays in a state, as in jäi haigeks.
Level 3 - Essive (-na)
The essive shows a role someone has, not one they become.
Level 3 - Terminative (-ni)
Compare reedeks (by Friday) with reedeni (until Friday).
Level 2 - Telling Your Age
Turning an age uses the translative: sain kolmekümneaastaseks.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Translative (-ks) in Bubblegum
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