põhialuseks

Põhialuseks is a term used in Estonian to denote the fundamental basis or underlying reason for a claim, decision, plan, or theory. The expression marks what is taken as the essential grounds on which arguments or actions are justified. It is common in formal discourse, including academic writing, policy documents, and legal texts.

Etymology and form: The word combines the root põhi, meaning base or foundation, with the suffix -aluseks, which means “as a basis.” The phrase is typically used as a noun in singular form and can pair with verbs like on or võetakse to indicate what serves as the basis.

Usage: Põhialuseks identifies the core justification or grounds for a position. It is often used to state what explains or legitimizes a particular stance. For example, in a report one might write that “põhialuseks on uuringu tulemused ja varasem teooria,” and in decision-making contexts it may appear as “Otsuse tegemiseks on põhialuseks ohutuse tagamine.”

Examples: In academic writing, a hypothesis may be presented as the põhialuseks of the study, supported by data and prior theories. In policy debates, safety considerations can be the põhialuseks for new regulations. The term helps distinguish foundational reasons from supplementary arguments.

See also: alus, põhjus, põhjendus, alustav. These related terms cover ground such as foundations, reasons, and justificatory arguments within Estonian usage.