Kohtelus

Kohtelus is the quality and practice of polite and considerate behavior in social interaction. It encompasses both spoken language and nonverbal conduct, including greetings, forms of address, how requests are phrased, expressions of gratitude, apologies, and actions such as giving way in queues or observing personal space. Kohtelus serves to facilitate smooth communication, signal respect, and maintain social harmony.

Linguistic realization of politeness often relies on strategies that manage social distance and face. In Estonian, the choice between formal and informal address signals context and relationship, with the te form used in formal or plural situations and with strangers or elders, and the sa form used among close friends or family. Politeness is also expressed through everyday phrases such as palun (please), aitäh (thank you), and vabandust (sorry/excuse me), as well as through tone, timing, and nonverbal cues.

Cultural and contextual variation exists within Estonia. Expectations of kohtelus can differ by situation—formal settings like workplaces or public services may require more explicit politeness, while informal interactions among peers may rely on brevity coupled with courtesy. Yet politeness generally remains important for signaling respect, facilitating cooperation, and reducing social friction, especially with strangers or older individuals.

Kohtelus intersects with broader concepts such as etiquette, civility, and social norms, reflecting values like consideration for others and social harmony. It is a subject of interest in sociolinguistics and cross-cultural communication as a dynamic, context-dependent aspect of human interaction.