Adoptoitavat

Adoptoitavat is an Estonian adjective meaning “adoptable” or “eligible to be adopted.” It describes a person or animal that can be adopted. The base form is adoptoitav; adoptoitavat is one inflected form used in sentences according to grammatical role. The term appears in welfare, shelter, and formal texts, and is also understood in everyday language when discussing adoption.

In practice, adoptoitav is most common in animal shelters, where dogs and cats labeled adoptoitav are considered ready for placement with a new owner after veterinary checks, behavior assessments, and readiness for adoption. It is also used in some child welfare materials to indicate a child suitable for placement through adoption, though in everyday Estonian the expression lapse omaks võtmine is more common for such contexts.

Etymology: the word is formed from the verb adopteerima (to adopt) with the suffix -tav to denote a property, plus standard Estonian inflection. The resulting form conveys potential or suitability rather than an action taken.

Legal and ethical notes: being adoptoitav is not a universal legal status; eligibility depends on applicable laws, regulations, and case-specific assessments conducted by authorities, shelters, or approved providers. Adoption processes typically require consent, background checks, and welfare considerations to ensure that placement serves the best interests of the person or animal involved.

See also: adopteerimine, laps omaks võtmine, foster care, animal shelter.