Tahetlikud

Tahetlikud is an Estonian adjective meaning “willing” or “voluntary,” formed from the noun tahe (will, desire) with the suffix -lik and the plural ending -ud. The term describes people or actions characterized by willingness or consent, emphasizing that participation or behavior occurs by free choice rather than obligation. In everyday Estonian, the more common synonym for “voluntary” is vabatahtlik, but tahetlikud can appear in literary or formal contexts to stress voluntariness.

Etymology and grammar: tahetlikud derives from tahe + -lik, a productive suffix that creates adjectives indicating a quality. The base adjective tahetlik has the same meaning, and tahetlikud is its nominative plural form. Other inflected forms follow standard Estonian declension patterns (e.g., tahetliku for genitive singular, tahetlike for partitive singular, etc.). The word can function attributively (tahetlikud inimesed) or, in some uses, as a collective noun referring to “the willing ones.”

Usage and nuance: tahetlikud often appears in written or historical prose to highlight voluntariness or agency, sometimes in contrast to coercion or duty. In contemporary speech, it is rarer and may sound stylistic or archaic; speakers are more likely to use vabatahtlikud for “volunteers.” The term can also carry a moral or evaluative nuance, underscoring voluntary action as a positive or principled choice.

See also: tahe, tahet, tahetlik, vabatahtlik, voluntariness.