tarvituse

Tarvituse on Estonian genitive singular of the noun tarvitus, which means a need, requirement or demand. The form tarvituse is used to express "of a need" or to form compound phrases that describe the relationship to needs or requirements. In ordinary language, the more common everyday terms for similar ideas are vajadus and tarve, but tarvituse appears frequently in formal, technical, or administrative contexts.

Etymology and form

Tarvitus derives from the verb tarvitama, meaning to require or need. The noun takes the genitive singular ending -se in this form, yielding tarvituse. The plural nominative is tarvitused, and the partitive form is tarvitust. As a grammatical form, tarvituse commonly appears in noun phrases that discuss the scope, fulfillment or assessment of needs.

Usage and contexts

Tarvituse is widely used in planning, budgeting, public administration and social sciences to refer to needs or requirements that must be satisfied. Examples of phrases include tarvi­tuse rahuldamine (fulfillment of needs), tarvi­tuse hindamine (assessment of needs) and toiminnan tarvi­tuste arvestamine (accounting for needs in activities). In policy discussions, tarvituse can denote the level or structure of needs in a population, such as basic needs versus higher-level needs.

Nuances and synonyms

Tarvitus as a base noun is somewhat formal; in everyday Estonian, inimesed more often say vajadus or tarve. Tarvituse carries a connotation of formal analysis, planning or evaluation of needs, rather than a casual sense of wanting something.

See also

Vajadus, tarve, tarvituslikkus, needs analysis, needs assessment.