Soovituslik

Soovituslik is an Estonian adjective meaning recommended or advisable. It is used to indicate guidance or best practices that are suggested to be followed but are not legally binding or mandatory. The term often appears in guidelines, manuals, and official documents to distinguish non-obligatory recommendations from mandatory requirements.

Usage and context

Soovituslik is commonly found in fields such as health and safety, education, consumer guidance, and technical documentation. Phrases like “soovituslik järgida” (it is recommended to follow) or “soovituslikud meetodid” (recommended methods) signal that adherence is advised rather than compulsory. In contrast, terms such as kohustuslik (mandatory) or keelatud (forbidden) express binding rules. The nuance conveyed by soovituslik helps organisations communicate best practices without imposing legal obligations.

Etymology and related terms

Soovituslik derives from the noun soovitus (recommendation) with the productive suffix -lik, forming an adjective. It is closely related to the synonym soovatav/soovitav, which are also used to express advisability or recommendation, though smaakful usage may vary by register. In many contexts, soovituslik and soovitatav are interchangeable, with soovituslik tending to appear in more formal or technical language.

See also

soovitav, kohustuslik, keelatud, soovitus, juhend.