Väiketähtedeks

Väiketähtedeks is an Estonian term that translates to "lowercase letters" in English. It refers to the set of alphabetic characters that are not capitalized. In the Latin alphabet, which is used in Estonian, the lowercase letters are a, b, c, and so on, through to z. These are distinct from their uppercase counterparts, often called "suurtähtedeks" in Estonian.

The use of lowercase letters is a fundamental aspect of written language. They typically appear at the beginning of words within sentences, after punctuation marks, and in many common nouns and adjectives. Capital letters, on the other hand, are generally reserved for specific purposes, such as the beginning of sentences, proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations), and acronyms.

In Estonian orthography, the rules for using lowercase and uppercase letters are largely consistent with other languages that use the Latin alphabet. Understanding the distinction between väiketähtedeks and suurtähtedeks is crucial for correct spelling and grammar in written Estonian. The visual difference between these two forms of letters is a key element of typography and readability in any language using an alphabet with case distinctions.