ehk

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Estonian

Etymology

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

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

Adverb

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

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 keel ― the 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

Descendants

  • → Ingrian: ehki

References

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