Privaloma

Privaloma is a Lithuanian adjective meaning obligatory or mandatory. It describes actions, rules, documents, or statuses that one is required to follow or possess. The term is commonly used in formal, legal, and educational contexts to mark requirements, safety standards, procedures, and administrative obligations. For example, phrases such as privaloma laikytis procedūrų or privaloma pateikti dokumentus appear in compliance guidelines and official notices.

Grammatical usage and forms are typical of Lithuanian adjectives. The form agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Masculine singular is privalomas (privalomas dokumentas), feminine singular is privaloma (privaloma pareiga, privalomos instrukcijos for feminine plural), and masculine plural is privalomi (privalomi dokumentai). The feminine plural is privalomos. In impersonal constructions the neuter form privaloma is often used, as in Tai privaloma, meaning “That is obligatory.”

Etymology and related terms: privaloma derives from the verb privalėti, meaning to be obliged or to have a duty. The term is closely related to other Lithuanian words for obligation and duty, such as privalumas (advantage in a different sense) and obligatoriškas as a synonymous or borrowed form in modern Lithuanian. In practice, privaloma is frequently contrasted with optional or discretionary concepts, such as pasirinktinai (optional) or leidžiama (permitted).

Overall, privaloma functions as a core descriptor in Lithuanian for rules, requirements, and duties that must be observed.