Haavatavamad

Haavatavamad is an Estonian adjective form meaning the more vulnerable or the more easily injured in a group. It represents the plural comparative degree of the base adjective haavatav (vulnerable). In Estonian, adjectives can be inflected to express comparison and number, so haavatavamad is used when referring to multiple subjects that are more vulnerable than others.

Grammatically, haavatav specifies the inherent vulnerability, while haavatavam is the singular comparative form, and haavatavamad is the plural comparative form. The word can function as an attributive modifier before a noun, or as a predicate adjective with the verb olema (to be). For example: "Need inimesed on haavatavamad kui teised" or "Need rühmad on haavatavamad." The construction aligns with standard Estonian adjective inflection and agreement rules.

In usage, haavatavamad commonly appears in risk assessment, policy discourse, humanitarian and public health contexts, and social science writing. It is used to identify groups or situations with higher susceptibility to harm or adverse outcomes, such as elderly people, persons with disabilities, or economically vulnerable populations. Metaphorically, it can describe structural or social vulnerability beyond physical danger.

Related terms include haavatav (vulnerable) and haavatavus (vulnerability). The term is typically employed in formal or analytical text to compare levels of risk or protection across different groups or scenarios, always ensuring appropriate context and sensitivity when discussing vulnerable populations.