Õigekiri

Õigekiri is the system of standard spelling and writing conventions of the Estonian language. The term combines õige (correct) and kiri (writing), reflecting its function as the standard for how words are formed and written in official and everyday contexts.

Its scope covers spelling, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, numerals, and the treatment of foreign loanwords and proper names. Estonian orthography includes the alphabet with letters such as ä, ö, ü, õ, and uses diacritics to indicate vowel quality and length. The rules aim to reflect phonology while preserving readability and consistency across texts.

Standardization is maintained by linguistic institutions in Estonia, notably the Estonian Language Institute and the Emakeele Selts. Their rules are published as orthography guidelines and dictionaries and are updated to reflect language change. The standards are taught in schools, used by publishers, media, government bodies, and in digital communication.

In practice, Õigekiri guides editors and spell-checkers, and forms the basis for search algorithms, typography, and language education. Changes often accompany new vocabulary and borrowings from other languages, requiring periodic updates to ensure consistent usage across domains.