lahutamatud

Lahutamatud is an Estonian term used in sociological and linguistic contexts to denote people who have not experienced divorce. The word is formed from lahutus (divorce) with the negating sense and the plural adjective ending, yielding lahutamatud — “the not-divorced ones.” It is not an official demographic category in Estonia and is rarely used in government statistics.

Usage and interpretation: In practice, lahutamatud describes a broad group that can include currently married individuals, those who have never married, and those who are widowed or separated but not legally divorced. The category is therefore imprecise for analysis of marital stability and may obscure important differences between subgroups of the population.

Limitations and discourse: Because it lumps together diverse marital histories, the term is viewed as limited for research purposes. It is more commonly encountered in sociolinguistic discussions, opinion writing, or informal discourse rather than formal surveys or official classifications.

See also: Lahutus (divorce); Marital status; Family demography; Estonian language.