vastutuslikku

Vastutuslikku is an Estonian grammatical form of the adjective vastutuslik, which means "responsible" or "accountable." The word is derived from the noun vastutus, meaning "responsibility," with the adjectival suffix -lik, used to express the quality of possessing responsibility.

In Estonian, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in number and case. Vastutuslikku is the partitive singular form of vastutuslik, and it appears when the noun it describes is in the partitive case. This form is commonly seen in noun phrases like vastutuslikku käitumist, which can be translated as "responsible behavior" or "behavior that is responsible." The partitive usage often occurs in contexts involving indefinite quantities or as the object of certain verbs and prepositions.

Usage and nuance: while vastutuslikku exists and is understood in Estonian, vastutustundlik is a more common and widely used synonym for "responsible" in everyday language. Vastutuslik carries a more formal or technical tone and is more likely to be found in official, academic, or specialized writing. Both forms share the same root and related meaning, but their frequency and connotation differ.

See also: vastutus (responsibility), vastutustundlik (conscientious, responsible in a practical sense). Understanding vastustusliku forms provides insight into Estonian adjective inflection and how case affects modifier endings in the language.