Arvamust

Arvamust is an Estonian noun meaning an opinion, belief, or judgement held by a person or group. It denotes a subjective assessment rather than a proven fact, and it can be informed by knowledge, experience, values, or biases. In everyday language, arvamust appears when someone states what they think about a topic or expresses a viewpoint in a discussion.

In Estonian grammar, arvamust is the partitive singular of arvamus. It is used after verbs that require a partitive object, for example: kuulma tema arvamust (to hear his opinion) or avaldama arvamust (to express an opinion). The plural form is arvamused.

Usage and context vary from casual conversation to formal discourse. In journalism and public debates, arvamused are common in editorials, opinion columns, and commentaries, where writers distinguish clearly between matters of fact and personal arvamused. Public engagement often centers on avalik arvamus (public opinion), which aggregates individual arvamused into a broader cultural or political sentiment. While arvamused can be informed by evidence, they are not themselves proof and are subject to scrutiny, rebuttal, and counterarguments.

Legal and ethical considerations generally protect the freedom to hold and express arvamused, though restrictions apply in cases such as hate speech or incitement to violence. In everyday communication, understanding the distinction between arvamus and fact helps maintain constructive discussion.

See also: arvamus, avalik arvamus, seisukoht.