SEMANTIC AND PRAGMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS

This article examines the semantic and pragmatic characteristics of phraseological units as stable and culturally marked linguistic expressions. Phraseological units are not ordinary combinations of words; they represent fixed or semi-fixed language structures with figurative meaning, expressive force, and communicative value. The study focuses on the relationship between the semantic structure of phraseological units and their pragmatic functions in discourse. From the semantic point of view, phraseological units are characterized by idiomaticity, semantic integrity, metaphorical meaning, emotional colouring, and cultural specificity. From the pragmatic point of view, they are used to express evaluation, emotion, irony, politeness, criticism, encouragement, social attitude, and speaker intention. The article applies a descriptive-analytical method based on theoretical sources in phraseology, semantics, pragmatics, and cognitive linguistics. The results show that phraseological units serve not only as expressive lexical means but also as important tools of communication. They help speakers influence the listener, create emotional impact, mark social relations, and transmit cultural values. The study concludes that semantic and pragmatic analysis of phraseological units is important for linguistics, translation studies, language teaching, and intercultural communication