koostisõna

Koostisõna is an Estonian term that translates to "compound word" in English. It refers to a word formed by combining two or more existing words, where each constituent word retains its original meaning to some extent, but the new word creates a new, distinct concept. This is a common word formation process in the Estonian language, contributing to its rich vocabulary.

Examples of koostisõnad include "lasteaed" (children's garden, meaning kindergarten), "raudtee" (iron road, meaning railway), and "maailmavaade" (world view). In these examples, "laps" (child) and "aed" (garden) combine to form "lasteaed." Similarly, "raud" (iron) and "tee" (road) create "raudtee," and "maailm" (world) and "vaade" (view) form "maailmavaade."

The formation of koostisõnad often follows grammatical rules, such as the first word being in the genitive case. However, there can be exceptions and variations depending on the specific words being combined and the evolution of the language. Understanding koostisõnad is crucial for comprehending Estonian vocabulary and grammar, as they represent a significant portion of the language's lexical resources. This word formation method allows for the creation of precise and often descriptive terms for a wide range of concepts.