Palgatud

Palgatud is an Estonian adjective meaning “paid” or “salaried” and is used to describe people or groups that receive compensation for services. It is formed from the noun palk (salary) with a participial suffix, producing a past passive participle that functions as an adjective.

Typical usage includes phrases such as palgatud töötaja (a salaried employee), palgatud spetsialist (a hired specialist), or palgatud esindaja (a paid representative). The term also appears in political or media discourse to denote paid influence, for example palgatud ajakirjanikud or palgatud kommentaatorid. The sense can range from neutral (describing employment status) to pejorative when used to imply bribery or manipulation.

Grammatical notes: palgatud behaves like a regular Estonian adjective. It precedes a noun and agrees in number and case (palgatud töötaja, palgatud töötajad; palgatud töötajaid, palgatud töötajate). It can be combined with a broad range of nouns to express various forms of paid or hired status. In some contexts, palgatud contrasts with palgaline or other phrases that emphasize ongoing payroll status.

Origin and usage: the term is well established in modern Estonian and is common in legal, business, media, and everyday language when discussing employment or influence tied to payment. While neutral in many contexts, it frequently carries a critical or accusatory tone in political or journalistic writing.

See also: palk (salary), palkamine (hiring), töötaja (employee), palgaline (on the payroll).