Otsingu

Otsingu is the genitive singular form of the Estonian noun otsing, which means a search or pursuit. It denotes the act of looking for something, gathering information, or conducting a systematic investigation. In standard Estonian, otsingu appears in phrases that indicate “of a search” or “during a search,” such as otsingu eesmärk (the aim of the search) or otsingu ajal (during the search).

Etymology and form: Otsing is derived from the verb otsima, meaning “to search,” with the nominal suffix -ing, a common way to form abstract nouns in Estonian. The genitive form otsingu is used primarily in attributive constructions and in compounds that describe aspects of a search.

Usage and contexts: The term otsing covers general acts of seeking as well as more formal or technical concepts of searching. In everyday language, both otsing and its genitive otsingu occur, but otsingu is most often seen in phrases that specify possession, relation, or timing of the search.

Examples and compounds: In technical or academic writing, you may encounter otsingu ajal (during the search), otsingu eesmärk (the aim of the search), or otsinguandmed (search data). In information retrieval and library contexts, the word helps describe processes and results related to locating information.

See also: Related Estonian terms include otsing (the general noun for “search”) and otsima (to search). The usage reflects Estonian’s tendency to form abstract nouns from verbs with the -ing suffix.