Kahjuseks

Kahjuseks is an Estonian term used to express that something is to the detriment or disadvantage of someone or some group. It is formed from the noun kahju (harm, loss) with the translative suffix -seks/-useks, and is often found in formal language such as legal, economic, or policy texts. The expression emphasizes the negative impact on interests rather than physical damage.

In usage, kahjuseks is used to identify who suffers the adverse effect and what is affected. For example, a decision can be described as kahjuseks ettevõtte tuludele (to the detriment of the company’s revenues), or a practice can be labeled kahjuseks tarbijate huvidele (to the detriment of consumers’ interests). It commonly appears in sentences that discuss outcomes, risks, or policy consequences and may require case forms that indicate the affected party (such as the allative or genitive forms, depending on the construction).

Kahjuseks is distinct from kahju or kahjulik. Kahju refers to harm or damage in a general sense, while kahjulik means harmful in quality. Kahjuseks specifically marks an effect as detrimental to someone’s interests in a comparative or evaluative context, often within analyses, reports, or assessments of consequences.

Etymology and related terms: kahju + translative suffix -seks/-useks; related terms include kahju (harm/damage), kahjulik (harmful), and kahjum (loss). The phrase is a standard part of formal Estonian and is used to articulate negative consequences for stakeholders such as businesses, consumers, or investors.