Lühenditena

Lühenditena is a term used in Estonian linguistics to refer to abbreviations. These are shortened forms of words or phrases that are used for convenience or to save space. There are several types of abbreviations in Estonian, including initialisms, acronyms, and contractions.

Initialisms are formed from the first letters of words in a phrase, such as "EL" for Euroopa Liit (European Union) or "PK" for Postkontor (Post Office). These are typically pronounced letter by letter. Acronyms, on the other hand, are formed from the initial letters of words and are pronounced as a single word, like "NATO" (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). While less common in Estonian than in some other languages, they do exist. Contractions involve shortening a word by omitting letters, often from the middle, such as "nt." for näiteks (for example) or "jne." for ja nii edasi (and so on).

The use of lühenditena is widespread in written Estonian, from formal documents to informal communication. They play a significant role in making language more efficient. The proper formation and usage of these abbreviations are often governed by conventions and dictionaries of abbreviations. Understanding these lühenditena is crucial for comprehending written Estonian effectively.