sotsiaalsed

Sotsiaalsed is an Estonian adjective form meaning related to society or social in the sense of social life, social relations, or social structures. It is used to modify plural nouns and agrees with the noun in number and case, as in sotsiaalsed suhted (social relations), sotsiaalsed normid (social norms), or sotsiaalsed õigused (social rights). The corresponding singular form is sotsiaalne.

Etymology and language notes: sotsiaalsed derives from sotsiaalne, which in turn comes from international loanwords such as French social and German sozial, referencing the concept of society. The adoption into Estonian grew with the development of modern social sciences and related disciplines in the 19th and 20th centuries. In everyday language, sotsiaalsed is a productive descriptor for phenomena, actions, or policies that involve or affect society.

Usage and contexts: sotsiaalsed is common in academic, policy, and media discourse. It appears in terms like sotsiaalteadused (social sciences), sotsiaaltöö (social work), and various compound phrases describing societal issues, programs, or rights. Typical collocations include sotsiaalsed probleemid, sotsiaalsed teenused, sotsiaalsed mõjud, and sotsiaalsed küsimused.

Relation to other terms: sotsiaalsed contrasts with ühis- or ühiskondlik, which can emphasize societal or public aspects more broadly. While sotsiaalne focuses on the social dimension, the surrounding context often determines precise nuance, such as welfare policy, social behavior, or social equality.

See also: sotsiaal, sotsiaalteadused, sotsiaaltöö, sotsioloogia.