Passiivselt

Passiivselt is an Estonian adverb meaning “in a passive manner” or “passively.” It is formed from the adjective passiivne (passive) with the adverbial suffix -selt, and it is used to describe how an action is performed or how a stance is taken. The term is related to the grammatical notion of the passive voice (passiv) in Estonian, but passiivselt functions as a modifier rather than a syntactic category.

In usage, passiivselt describes manner rather than agentive intention. It often conveys a lack of initiative, active participation, or direct control by the subject. For example, ta vastas passiivselt, väljatöötades vastusena olukorrale without showing explicit engagement. In formal or analytical writing, passiivselt may be used to emphasize process, objectivity, or evidence rather than the actor. Example: Uuringu tulemused esitati passiivselt, keskendudes andmetele ja faktidele.

The adverb commonly appears in scientific, journalistic, technical, or reflective prose, where the writer wishes to downplay agency or to present information in an objective, observational manner. It can contrast with aktivselt, which would describe actions carried out with active involvement or deliberate intent. While passiivselt is widely understood, in everyday speech speakers may prefer synonyms or phrasing that indicates subtlety, neutrality, or emphasis without explicitly using passiivselt.

See also: passiv, passiivne (passive and related adjectives), ekvivalents in other languages for expressing passive or non-active stance.