ehk

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/, [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

• ehkki

Descendants

• → Ingrian: ehki

References

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