Välised

Välised is an Estonian adjective meaning external, outside, or foreign. It is used to describe phenomena, relations, or entities that originate outside a given system, organization, or country, in contrast to internal aspects. The form välised functions as the nominative plural adjective before plural nouns, with the root being välis-.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the prefix välis-, which denotes exterior or foreign in Estonian. It is commonly paired with nouns to form standard phrases in political, economic, and cultural contexts. The corresponding singular forms include välis- in various inflected endings, and the opposite concept is sisemine (internal) or sisemised (internal, plural).

Usage: Välised is widely used in formal and institutional language. Typical collocations include välised suhted (external/foreign relations), välised riigid (foreign countries), and, less commonly, välised ettevõtted (foreign-owned companies). In diplomacy, policy, and business discourse, välised often characterizes external considerations, influences, or actors as distinct from domestic or internal ones.

See also: välis- (prefix), välissuhted (external relations), välisriik (foreign country), sisemine (internal).

Notes: In everyday Estonian, the choice between välised and sisemised reflects whether the focus is on external versus internal aspects. The term is neutral and primarily descriptive, without inherent evaluative connotations.