Sõnavarasse

Sõnavarasse is the illative form of the Estonian noun sõnavara (vocabulary, lexicon). It denotes movement into or inclusion within the vocabulary and is commonly used metaphorically to describe the process of lexical acquisition—bringing new words into a speaker’s active or passive lexicon.

Etymology and form: The word is built from sõnavara with the illative suffix -sse, which marks direction inward. In figurative use, this grammatical form signals the expansion of a person’s vocabulary rather than a physical destination.

Usage and meaning: In linguistic, educational, and discourse contexts, sõnavarasse describes how new terms enter a speaker’s repertoire. It can refer to the gradual growth of vocabulary during language learning, the incorporation of domain-specific terminology, or discussions about how learners or communities adopt and retain words. Common constructions include phrases such as viia uued sõnad sõnavarasse (to bring new words into one’s vocabulary) or see sõna on nüüd sõnavarasse kuuluv (this word is now part of one’s vocabulary).

Contexts and relevance: The concept is used in fields such as applied linguistics, pedagogy, and lexicography to discuss vocabulary size, acquisition pace, and the transition of items from passive to active knowledge. It highlights that vocabulary is dynamic and continuously evolving through exposure, use, and practice.

See also: sõnavara, leksika, terminoloogia, keeleõpe. The term is primarily a linguistic and educational expression and is not tied to a specific external repository; it denotes a cognitive and communicative process.