eesmärgi

Eesmärk is an Estonian noun meaning goal, aim, or objective. The form eesmärgi is the genitive singular of eesmärk and is used to indicate possession or association, as in the phrases that describe whose goal is being referred to or what goal is being discussed.

The word is a compound derived from ees- (in front, before) and märg (mark, sign), conveying the sense of something to aim for or a sign to guide action. In practice, eesmärk denotes the intended outcome of actions, plans, or projects and is widely used in education, business, sports, and everyday language.

Usage and grammar notes: Eesmärk is masculine; its plural nominative is eesmärgid, and its genitive singular is eesmärgi. It is common to combine it with possessors in the genitive, as in projekti eesmärk (the project’s goal). The construction eesmärgiks on ... is used to state a goal as a predicate, e.g., Eesmärk on suurendada kasumit (The goal is to increase profit). The phrase eesmärkide seadmine refers to the act of setting goals, and eesmärgiga can appear in phrases meaning “with the goal” or “as a goal.”

Related terms include siht (target, aim) and tulemus (outcome), which are sometimes used interchangeably in context but carry distinct nuances. Eesmärk remains central in planning, evaluation, and performance discourse.