juHt

Juht is an Estonian noun that denotes a person who directs, leads, or governs. The primary sense is “leader” or “chief,” and it is commonly used for individuals who head organizations, teams, or projects. The term can also refer more generally to someone in charge of guiding a process or activity.

In addition to human leadership, juht has a technical meaning in electronics. In this context, it refers to a conductor or wire that carries electricity, reflecting the idea of guiding or transmitting power.

Usage and variants commonly appear in compounds. Examples include ettevõtte juht (the head/CEO of a company), riigi juht (the head of state), and juhtkond (the leadership or management team). The related verb juhtima means “to lead” or “to direct,” and its noun forms such as juhataja or juht are used to describe people in managerial or supervisory roles.

Etymology traces juht to the Estonian verb juhtima, meaning “to lead,” and it is cognate with other Finnic languages’ terms for leading or guiding, such as Finnish johtaa and johtaja. The word embodies the core concept of guiding or directing, which ties together its social and technical senses.

Overall, juht is a versatile, gender-neutral term in Estonian for someone who leads or directs, with a specialized electrical sense as a conductor. It remains common in both organizational titles and everyday language.