Vanemliku

Vanemliku is an Estonian adjective meaning parental or relating to a parent. It describes traits, duties, or relationships connected with parents or parenting. The form vanemliku is an inflected variant used before a noun in certain grammatical cases, most commonly the genitive singular, as in vanemliku vastutuse (parental responsibility) or vanemliku hoolduse (parental care). The base form vanemlik is used in attributive position before a noun in the nominative singular, for example vanemlik suhtumine (par-enteral attitude).

Etymology and usage: vanemliku is derived from vanem, meaning parent or elder, plus the suffix -lik, which forms adjectives meaning "related to" or "like." Thus vanemlik literally conveys the sense of something pertaining to a parent. The word is part of standard Estonian and appears in education, psychology, social policy, and family law discourse, as well as in general discussions of parenting.

Context and notes: In everyday speech, speakers may use simpler constructions, but vanemliku remains common in formal and written Estonian. It is typically encountered in phrases describing responsibilities, care, influence, or attitudes associated with parents, such as vanemliku vastutuse, vanemliku hoolduse, or vanemliku mõju. Related terms include vanem (parent) and vanemlus (parenting).

See also: vanem, vanemlus.