häbi

häbi is an Estonian noun meaning "shame" or "embarrassment." It refers to an internal emotional state that arises from a perceived violation of social norms or moral standards, or from external stigma attached to a person or action. In everyday language, häbi can denote both personal shame and social disapproval of behavior. Common expressions include häbi tundma, meaning "to feel shame," and See on häbi, meaning "That is shameful" or "That is a disgrace." The adjective häbiväärne means "shameful" or "disgraceful," while häbitundlik describes someone who is easily ashamed or self-conscious. The term is primarily used in moral or social contexts; related notions include häbelikkus (shyness) and häbelik (shy).

Etymology and related terms: häbi belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic language family and has cognates in related languages; in Finnish, the equivalent word is häpeä. In Estonian discourse, häbi functions as a social regulator, signaling disapproval when actions deviate from established norms of modesty, propriety, or honor. The concept also appears in literature and public discussion of ethics and behavior.

See also: häbitunne, häbiväärne, häbelikkus, häbelik.