Kahtluse

Kahtluse is the genitive singular form of the Estonian noun kahtlus, which means suspicion or doubt. The word is used to describe uncertainty about the truth, accuracy, or integrity of a statement, action, or situation. In everyday speech it can refer to a practical doubt, while in legal or investigative contexts it denotes a formal state of suspicion toward a person or event. The phrase kahtluse alla is a common expression meaning to come under suspicion.

Etymology and related forms: Kahtlus is derived from the verb kahtlema, meaning to doubt, with the abstract-noun suffix -lus. Related terms include kahtluslik (suspicious, doubtful) and kahtlusalune (a suspect, i.e., a person under suspicion). These forms are frequently found in both formal and informal Estonian discourse.

Usage notes: Kahtluse is primarily a cognitive or evaluative noun, signaling doubt about information, claims, or conduct. In journalism and law, kahtlus can accompany descriptions of investigative developments or allegations, without asserting guilt. The adjective and related nouns help express different facets of doubt, such as the intensity of concern (kahtluslik) or the person targeted by suspicion (kahtlusalune).

In summary, kahtluse is the grammatical form used to refer to suspicion in Estonian, rooted in kahtlus and kahtlema, and it appears across everyday language and formal contexts to articulate doubt and inquiry.