Vajadus

Vajadus, Estonian for "need" or "necessity," is a fundamental concept used to describe a state of deficiency that motivates actions to obtain or create what is required for survival, functioning, or well-being. In everyday language the term covers biological needs (food, water, shelter) as well as more abstract requirements such as safety, belonging, or achievement. The noun vajadus is formed from the Estonian root vaja- "to need" with the suffix -dus, yielding "vajadus" for "need" and "vajadused" for "needs."

In philosophy and social sciences, vajadus is distinguished from tahe (desire) and soov (wish) by its emphasis on necessity rather than preference. In economics and policy discussions, the concept is used to identify what individuals or groups must have to maintain health or productivity; the term is more common in everyday Estonian than in technical literature, where more precise terms such as nõue (requirement) or vajaduslik nõue may appear in specialized contexts.

Vajadus can be analyzed at multiple levels: biological needs universal to humans; psychosocial needs shaped by culture and experience; and organizational or strategic needs arising from constraints and goals. Recognizing the distinction between basic needs and discretionary needs helps frame discussions about welfare, development, and rights. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is often cited as a related framework.