kohtelus
Kohtelus is the quality and practice of polite and considerate behavior in social interaction. It encompasses both spoken language and nonverbal conduct, including greetings, forms of address, how requests are phrased, expressions of gratitude, apologies, and actions such as giving way in queues or observing personal space. Kohtelus serves to facilitate smooth communication, signal respect, and maintain social harmony.
Linguistic realization of politeness often relies on strategies that manage social distance and face. In Estonian,
Cultural and contextual variation exists within Estonia. Expectations of kohtelus can differ by situation—formal settings like
Kohtelus intersects with broader concepts such as etiquette, civility, and social norms, reflecting values like consideration