koostissõnad

Koostissõnad are compound words in the Estonian language. They are formed by combining two or more separate words to create a new word with a distinct meaning. This is a very common word formation process in Estonian, contributing to the language's rich vocabulary. The meaning of a koostissõna is often derivable from the meanings of its constituent parts, though sometimes the compound can develop a more specialized or idiomatic meaning.

There are several ways koostissõnad can be formed. One common type involves a noun followed by another noun, where the first noun modifies or specifies the second. For example, "raamatukogu" (library) is formed from "raamat" (book) and "kogu" (collection). Another type involves a verb stem combined with a noun or adjective. Adjectives can also be combined with nouns. Sometimes, grammatical case endings play a role in the formation, although often the words are joined directly. The precise grammatical relationship between the parts can vary.

Understanding koostissõnad is crucial for comprehending Estonian. They allow for the creation of new concepts and can be quite descriptive. Many everyday words are koostissõnad, such as "sõrmus" (ring, literally "finger-thing") or "jalgratas" (bicycle, literally "foot-wheel"). The process is productive, meaning new koostissõnad can be coined as needed to express new ideas or technologies.