Maailmakaardist

Maailmakaardist is an Estonian term that refers to a person who creates or specializes in world maps. The word is formed from the components maailma (world) and kaart (map) with the agent noun suffix -ist, yielding a label for someone involved in world-map cartography. In everyday usage, however, the term is not common in modern Estonian, and standard terms such as kartograaf (cartographer) or kaardist (mapmaker) are more typical.

Etymology and usage in context. Maailmakaardist illustrates how Estonian combines nouns to describe professional roles. The compound emphasizes world-scale mapping as its focus. Because it is relatively uncommon, it appears mainly in descriptive or historical discussions about mapmaking or in contexts where a precise, specialized label is useful. The term is understood but not routinely employed in contemporary professional titles.

Role and scope. A world-map specialist typically engages in selecting map projections, scales, and data appropriate for depicting the entire globe. In historical contexts, such individuals might have produced world atlases or large-format maps for education and navigation. In modern practice, a maalimkaardist would often be involved in cartography broadly, frequently working with GIS tools, digital data, and publishing workflows, and their work intersects with the wider field of cartography and map production.

See also. Cartography; Kartograaf; Kaardist; World map.

Note. The plural form would be maailmakaardistid, used to refer to multiple people in this role.