teises

Teisės (plural form of teisė) is the Lithuanian word for law or rights. In Lithuanian usage, teisė can refer to the system of rules that governs society as a whole, or to individual or collective claims and protections known as rights. The plural form teisės can denote both laws and rights, depending on the context.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the Lithuanian word teisė, rooted in a Baltic linguistic tradition connected to concepts of order and fairness. It is related to cognate terms across Baltic languages that express justice, governance, and lawful entitlement. In practice, teisės encompasses both substantive rules (what is allowed or forbidden) and normative claims (what individuals or groups may expect to be protected).

Usage in law and society: In legal and policy contexts, teisės includes constitutional rights, due process, property rights, and civil liberties. It appears in phrases such as tarptautinė teisė (international law), civilinė teisė (civil law), and asmens teisės (personal rights). The term also covers the science and study of law, with expressions like teisės studijos (law studies) and teisės mokslas (the science of law). In everyday language, people may refer to “teisė” when discussing rights or to “teisės aktai” when referring to laws and legislative acts.

See also: Law, Rights, Civil law, Constitutional law, International law.