sõnaraamatu

Sõnaraamat is a reference work that lists words of a language together with information about their meanings, pronunciation, usage, etymology, and grammatical forms. The form sõnaraamatu is the genitive singular of sõnaraamat, meaning “of the dictionary” or “dictionary’s,” and is used in phrases such as sõnaraamatu tähendus or sõnaraamatu sisu.

Dictionaries come in several types. Monolingual dictionaries present words in one language with definitions in that language, while bilingual or multilingual dictionaries provide equivalents in other languages. Learner’s dictionaries are tailored for language learners, offering clear meanings, usage notes, and common collocations. Specialised dictionaries focus on particular domains like technical, medical, legal, or financial vocabulary. In the digital era, electronic and online dictionaries are widespread, often including audio pronunciations, search features, and frequency data.

A typical dictionary entry includes a headword, pronunciation, part of speech, and one or more senses or definitions. Additional elements may cover etymology, inflectional forms, synonyms and antonyms, usage notes, example sentences, and cross-references to related words. Many entries also indicate register, formality, or regional variations.

Dictionaries play a central role in language learning, writing, translation, and linguistic research. They document language change, record neologisms, and reflect contemporary usage. In Estonian contexts, dictionaries may be produced by linguistic institutions or publishers and distributed as print and digital resources, with ongoing updates to incorporate new words and meanings.