Hooletusest

Hooletusest is an Estonian noun form meaning neglect or disregard. It is the elative singular form of the noun hooletus, which denotes the state or quality of failing to give proper attention or care. The term is used in formal and written Estonian to signal that a consequence or action has arisen from neglect, poor maintenance, or inadequate supervision. In this sense, hooletusest functions to attribute a cause to negligent behavior rather than to accident or intent.

Etymology and grammar: Hooletusest derives from hooletus with the elative case suffix -usest, which marks origin or source. The phrase can be used in compound expressions such as hooletusest tulenev, meaning “arising from neglect,” or in noun phrases like hooletusest põhjustatud kahju, meaning “damage caused by neglect.” The construction emphasizes causal connection between neglect and its outcomes.

Usage and context: The term appears in legal, administrative, journalistic, and academic Estonian writing. It is commonly paired with nouns describing consequences, hazards, or errors that result from neglect in areas such as infrastructure maintenance, social care, or workplace safety. While it conveys a formal tone, it is appropriate in both policy reports and investigative journalism to attribute responsibility for negligent outcomes.

See also: hooletus, hooldus, hool and other related terms for care and maintenance. In English-language summaries, hooletusest is often rendered as “from neglect” or “due to neglect.”