mõju

Mõju is an Estonian noun meaning influence, effect, or impact. It denotes the capacity to cause changes in a person, situation, or process, or the result produced by a cause. In everyday language and academic writing, mõju can refer to political, social, or cultural influence, as well as the physical effect of a force or intervention. The phrase "mõju avaldama" means to exert influence; "mõju all" indicates under the influence of something.

Etymology: Mõju is a Finnic word, cognate with Finnish vaikutus, both from Proto-Finnic roots, expressing the notion of effect or impression.

Usage: In sociology and political science, mõju appears in discussions of how institutions, media, or policies affect behavior or outcomes. In science and engineering, it translates as "effect" or "impact," for example, the effect of a drug or the impact of a stimulus. In statistics, terms like "mõju suurus" describe the size of an effect. The word is used in formal Estonian as a neutral descriptor, without implying intentionality.

See also: Influence, Effect, Impact, Causality, Consequence, Policy impact.

Note: When translating to English, mõju is commonly rendered as influence or effect, depending on context.