Variation of the diminutive suffix -kEnE in Estonian runic songs This article investigates the variation of the diminutive suffix –kEnE in Estonian runic songs (regilaulud), comparing its usage to that in contemporary Estonian dialects. The study employs variationist linguistic methods to analyze the frequency and forms of diminutive usage in the runic song corpus, with particular attention to geographic and verse-contextual distribution of the suffix. The study focuses on the definition and functions of diminutives in runic songs, as well as their usage patterns. The research combines frequency analysis with qualitative examination of the most common examples. One key finding is that the proportion of the –kEnE suffix is significantly higher in runic song texts collected from Eastern Estonia than in those from the west. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of diminutive variation in Estonian runic songs and sheds light on the poetic and linguistic aspects of these traditional songs.