koguja

Koguja is an Estonian noun meaning a person who collects items or gathers things. It is formed from the verb koguma, meaning to gather or to collect, with the agentive suffix -ja, which yields the sense of “the one who collects.” The term is neutral and widely used to describe people who accumulate objects as a hobby, profession, or otherwise.

Usage and scope include collectors of stamps, coins, books, art, or data, as well as individuals who curate items for museums, archives, or research projects. While the term is broad and neutral, in some contexts a more specialized word such as kollektsionäär may be used to emphasize the collecting as a hobby or vocation; in everyday language, however, kaks is often interchangeable or used according to stylistic preference.

In contrast to terms that imply pathology or excessive accumulation, such as hoarding, kOGuja generally denotes a voluntary activity focused on collecting and organizing items. The plural form is kogujad, and in possessive or genitive constructions the form follows standard Estonian grammar rules for nouns ending in -ja.

Related concepts include kogumine (the act of collecting) and kollektsioon (a collection or assemblage of items). The word can be applied across cultures and languages when Estonian speakers describe someone who collects, catalogs, or curates objects or data.