ühendsõnalised

Ühendsõnalised refers to compound words in the Estonian language. These are words formed by combining two or more distinct words to create a new word with a new meaning. The constituent words typically retain their original form, though some minor phonetic changes can occur. The meaning of the compound word is usually a logical combination of the meanings of its parts. For example, "raamatukogu" is a compound word meaning "library," formed from "raamat" (book) and "kogu" (collection).

The formation of compound words is a common and productive process in Estonian, contributing significantly to its vocabulary. They can be formed in various ways, including noun-noun, adjective-noun, verb-noun, and even preposition-noun combinations. The stress in a compound word typically falls on the first syllable of the first component word. Understanding ühendsõnalised is crucial for comprehending and using Estonian effectively, as they are frequently encountered in everyday language and formal writing. The meaning of a compound word can sometimes be idiomatic, meaning it cannot be fully deduced from the meanings of its individual parts. Examples include "põllumajandus" (agriculture), literally "field economy," and "suhkrupeet" (sugar beet), literally "sugar beet." The grammatical relationship between the components can vary, often implying possession, purpose, or a descriptive link.