Kaldkriipsuga

Kaldkriipsuga is a term used in linguistic description and typographic practice to denote that a form is hyphenated—i.e., it contains a kaldkriips (hyphen) as part of the orthography. The word itself comes from Estonian kaldkriips (“hyphen” or “dash”) and the suffix -uga (“with”), so it translates roughly as “with a hyphen.” In usage, kaldkriipsuga is not a separate word but a label applied to words or word forms in descriptions, dictionaries, or style guides to indicate hyphenation.

The scope includes hyphenated compounds, word breaks at line ends, and cases where hyphens are used to link elements within a larger term. It is employed to clarify morphology and word formation in Estonian orthography and to aid readability. The label helps distinguish forms that include a hyphen from those that do not, and it can be used in linguistic analysis, typography guidelines, and educational materials.

In practice, kaldkriipsuga forms are subject to orthographic rules that determine when hyphens should appear, how many morphemes may be connected, and how hyphenation should be treated in line breaks or in forming compounds. Style guides may specify how kaldkriipsuga forms interact with other punctuation and with different word classes, ensuring consistent representation across texts.

See also: Hyphen, Hyphenation, Estonian orthography, Compound word.