Mittefiktiivse

Mittefiktiivse is an Estonian adjective meaning non-fictional or not fictional. It is used to describe content, works, or genres that are based on facts, real events, or real people rather than imagined elements.

Etymology and usage notes: the term combines mitte (not) and fiktiivne (fictional). In sentences it appears in attributive form before a noun, for example in phrases like mittefiktiivse teose or mittefiktiivse kirjanduse žanr, to indicate non-fictional content. The word is common in academic, library, and media contexts when distinguishing factual writing from fictional storytelling.

Scope and characteristics: mittefiktiivse works include histories, biographies, journalism, scientific writing, essays, documentary reporting, and other texts that rely on evidence, sources, and verification. Personal memory or memoir can be considered non-fiction if it aims to reflect real experiences and events, though such writings may blend subjective perspective with factual material. In practice, non-fiction often involves research, citations, and critical examination of sources, but may still present interpretation or argument.

Distinctions and related terms: mittefiktiivse contrasts with fiktiivne, which describes invented or imaginary content. The boundary between non-fiction and fiction can be fluid in genres like literary non-fiction or documentary storytelling, where narrative techniques are used to convey facts. In Estonian discourse, mittefiktiivse is frequently used in library cataloging, scholarly writing, and media criticism to categorize content.

See also: fiktiivne; non-fiction; non-fiction writing; documentary; memoir.