Lühised

Lähised is the plural form of the Estonian noun lähis, meaning a close relative or next of kin. The term refers to people who are among one’s closest family members and are typically expected to be involved in important personal matters. In ordinary language, lähised includes immediate family such as spouses or registered partners, parents, children, and siblings. Depending on context, it can also encompass other near relatives like grandparents or in‑laws, but the scope is usually defined by social or legal conventions rather than by a fixed rule.

In everyday use, the word is employed to describe relationships of closeness and responsibility within a family network. In official or administrative contexts, lähis or nearby kin are often designated as next of kin or as persons authorized to make decisions on behalf of someone who is unable to act independently. This can occur in situations such as medical treatment decisions, inheritance matters, or guardianship arrangements. Because the exact definition of who counts as a lähis can vary by policy, institution, or legal framework, it is common to find slight differences in which relatives are included in a given context.

Etymologically, lähis derives from the notion of nearness or proximity, reflected in related terms such as lähedus (proximity) in Estonian. The term is widely used in contemporary Estonian to refer to the people closest to an individual in terms of family ties and social support.

See also: lähisugulased, perekond.