suurtähedus

Suurtähtsus refers to a concept often encountered in Estonian, particularly in discussions of grammar and orthography. It broadly translates to "capitalization" or "the use of capital letters." This concept dictates when and where capital letters should be employed in written Estonian, following specific rules to ensure clarity and correctness.

Generally, suurtähtsus applies to the beginning of sentences, proper nouns such as names of people, places, organizations, and specific events. For instance, the name of the country Estonia, "Eesti," is capitalized, as is the name of a city like Tallinn. Similarly, personal names like "Jaan Kross" are written with initial capital letters. The first word of a sentence is always capitalized, irrespective of whether it is a proper noun or not.

There are also specific rules regarding titles, days of the week, months, and holidays. While the general rule is to capitalize proper nouns, the specific application of suurtähtsus in Estonian can have nuances, especially with certain compound nouns or established phrases. For instance, official titles might be capitalized when used in a formal context. The rules are designed to differentiate between common and proper nouns, thereby enhancing readability and avoiding ambiguity in written communication. Understanding and applying suurtähtsus correctly is a fundamental aspect of mastering Estonian written language.