Tsitaadimärke

Tsitaadimärke, also known as quotation marks, are punctuation marks used to set off direct quotations, titles of short works, and sometimes to indicate a word or phrase used ironically or in a special sense. In Estonian, the primary quotation marks are the bottom-opening guillemets (« »). These are often referred to as "prantsuse koma" or French commas.

While guillemets are the traditional and preferred form in Estonian, other quotation marks are also sometimes encountered, particularly in digital contexts or when influenced by other languages. These include the double quotation marks (" ") and single quotation marks (' '). The choice between guillemets and other forms can sometimes depend on the style guide or the specific publication.

When quoting speech or text, the tsitaadimärke enclose the exact words spoken or written. For example, "Ta ütles: «Täna on ilus ilm.»" (He said: "It is nice weather today."). Titles of shorter works, such as poems, short stories, or individual articles within a larger publication, are also enclosed in tsitaadimärke. For instance, "Luuletus «Muusika» ilmus kogumikus." (The poem "Music" was published in the collection.). Their use helps to distinguish direct speech and specific titles from the surrounding text, improving clarity and readability.