interesses

Interesses is a plural noun used in Dutch and Portuguese to refer to what someone finds important, cares about, or has a stake in. It can denote personal preferences, goals, or concerns, and can apply to individuals, groups, organizations, or nations.

Etymology and usage vary by language but share a common root in the idea of matters that matter. In Dutch, interesse becomes interesses in the plural form. In Portuguese, the word is interesses. Both derive from Latin interesse, meaning to matter or to be between, and the sense of importance or stake developed over time in each language.

Uses and senses of the term include personal interests (hobbies, activities, tastes), professional or academic interests (fields of study, research topics, career goals), and financial or strategic interests (stakes in a project or company). In political or public contexts, interesses can refer to agendas or priorities that influence decision-making. In legal and governance contexts, expressions like conflict of interests or interesses contraria highlight situations where different parties’ interests may affect judgments or actions. In Dutch, similar discussions may refer to belangen, though interesses is also used in relevant contexts.

In practice, interests are often inferred from behavior, stated preferences, or formal declarations. They can be mapped, compared, or aligned in settings such as market research, policy planning, or stakeholder engagement, where understanding diverse interesses helps explain choices and guide negotiations.

See also: interest, interesse, conflicto de interesses.