Kogusõnad

Kogusõnad are collective nouns found in the Estonian language that refer to groups or sets of objects, people, or animals. Unlike ordinary nouns, a kogusõna denotes more than one individual, but it is treated grammatically as a singular entity, similar to collective nouns in English. They are often used to describe various collective phenomena, such as a "tupp rändajaid" (a group of travellers) or "küla taevast" (a village sky).

Grammatically, kogusõnad behave as regular singular nouns in Estonian. They are declined with the same case endings as singular nouns and are typically used in the singular form when counting or describing the collective. For example, one can say "kõik eläjad" (all the animals) or "ühekoosse" (of a unity). Some kogusõnad are derived from general nouns with a suffix such as -ke or -mat, recognizing identity as a group rather than merely a plural.

Examples include “mägi armastajad” (mountain lovers), “päevane teravad” (daily sharpness), and “käärimägi paistkond” (a group of users). In everyday speech, kogusõnad provide texture and specificity, allowing speakers to refer to whole populations or categories in a stylistically efficient manner.

The study of kogusõnad intersects with semantic and syntactic theories of collective reference, offering insight into how languages encode grouphood. Scholars refer to comprehensive lists and categorizations in Estonian linguistic literature, which document the rich variety of such terms and their distribution across dialects.