Koht

Koht is a word in the Estonian language with several related senses. Most commonly it means “place” or “location.” In a legal context, koht also denotes a court, referring to the judicial institution or the building where legal proceedings take place. Beyond its common noun uses, koht is encountered as a surname in Estonia.

Etymology and cognates: Koht derives from Finnic roots and is cognate with Finnish kohta, which shares meanings related to a spot, point, place, or occasion. The shared heritage reflects how Finnic languages form terms for location, time, and institutions from a common base.

Usage and examples: In everyday speech, koht appears in reference to a physical site or position within a broader area. In legal discourse, the word is used to denote the court system and related procedures, although the exact forms and compounds vary by context. The term also appears in place names and geographical designations, where it contributes to the sense of locality.

Notable uses and people: As a surname, Koht is found in Estonia. A prominent historical figure with this surname is Edvard Koht (1873–1964), an Estonian politician, historian, and diplomat who served as foreign minister and played a key role in Estonia’s early independence era.

See also: The Finnish cognate kohta, which shares several related senses of place, point, or moment, illustrating the closely related semantics across Finnic languages.