Laht

Laht is an Estonian noun meaning bay, gulf, or sea inlet. It refers to a coastal indentation that connects the open sea with a larger body of water. In geographical usage, laht is a general term used to describe coastlines rather than the name of a specific feature; many bays and inlets in Estonia are described with this word in combination with other elements, such as the name of a nearby landform or region.

Etymology: Laht is a Finnic word cognate with the Finnish lahti. Both terms derive from a common Finnic linguistic heritage and describe a water indentation along the coast. The exact boundaries between laht and related terms vary by language and local usage.

Geographic and linguistic context: In Estonia, laht appears in geographic literature, maps, and toponyms to denote coastal bays and inlets. The term is part of the Finnic toponymy that names coastlines by their physical characteristics, rather than by political or administrative designations.

See also: Estonian language; Finnic languages; toponymy; geography of Estonia.