nõustuv

Nõustuv is an Estonian adjective meaning advisory or consultative. It describes something whose primary purpose is to provide guidance, recommendations, or expert opinion rather than to make binding decisions. The term is common in official, administrative, and organizational language, where non-binding advice is important.

The word is formed from the noun nõu, meaning advice, with the participial suffix -uv, a standard way to create adjectives that describe a state or ongoing activity in Estonian. It is closely related to other advisory-related terms such as nõustaja (advisor) and nõuandlik or nõustav, which convey advisory nuances with different emphasis.

In practice, you may encounter phrases like nõustuv komisjon (an advisory committee) or nõustuv teenus (an advisory service). It is used to distinguish bodies or roles that issue recommendations to be considered by a decision-making authority, as opposed to bodies with binding authority.

Usage note: Nõustuv emphasizes the advisory nature of a function or entity; when the focus is specifically on the act of giving advice, other terms such as nõuandlik or nõustav may be used in different contexts. The term is most often found in formal written language, governmental documents, and organizational charters.