Estonian edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Finnic *ehkä, cognate with Finnish ehkä, Votic ehtši, Karelian ehki. Possibly derived from the negative verb stem *e-, whence modern Estonian ei, or from an identical Proto-Uralic stem meaning 'this', from which et. A third theory suggests a Baltic loan, ← Proto-Balto-Slavic *jḗˀgāˀ (compare modern Lithuanian jėga (force, power) and Latvian jēga (understanding, sense, intellect)).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈehk/, [ˈehk]
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ehk
  • Hyphenation: ehk

Adverb edit

ehk (not comparable)

  1. Refers to a hypothetical or hoped-for possibility that is not entirely certain: perhaps, maybe
    Ehk ta eksis pimedas ära?Perhaps he got lost in the dark?
    Päeva peale läheb ehk soojemaks.Maybe it will get warmer as the day goes on.
    Tänaseks ehk aitab õppimisest.I think that's enough studying for today.
    Praegu küll ei saa, ehk kunagi tulevikus.I can't right now, but I might in the future.
    Synonyms: järsku, vahest, võib-olla, võibolla, äkki
    1. Occurs in modest speech, especially when making a wish or a request.
      Ehk saad mulle paar eurot laenata?Perhaps you could lend me a few euros?
      Kas sul on ehk mõni minut aega?Do you have a few minutes, by any chance?
      Ehk võiksite mind pisut aidata!Could you help me a little!

Conjunction edit

ehk (abbreviation e)

  1. a.k.a., or
    Synonym: (archaic) elik
    1. Connects words that are synonymous, that mean the same thing or that are used in the same context.
      uelsi ehk kõmri keelthe Welsh language, a.k.a. Cymraeg
    2. Connects two expressions, the latter explaining the former or conveying it in other words.
      Soode üldpindala on 9340 km² ehk 20,7% Eesti territooriumist.
      The total area of marshland is 9340 km², or 20.7% of Estonia's territory.
  2. (archaic) or
    Synonym: või

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Ingrian: ehki

References edit

  • ehk in Sõnaveeb (Eesti Keele Instituut)
  • ehk”, in [EKSS] Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat [Descriptive Dictionary of the Estonian Language] (online version, in Estonian), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2009