väärtusi

Väärtusi is the Estonian noun related to value and worth, used as the plural form in various grammatical cases to denote multiple values. The basic sense of väärtus is value, worth, merit, or importance, and väärtusi is used when discussing several values or speaking about values in a general sense. The nominative plural form is väärtused.

In everyday language, väärtused commonly refer to moral and cultural ideals—such as honesty, equality, responsibility, and respect—and to the principles that guide behavior in individuals or communities. Väärtusi can also appear when describing values attributed to objects, actions, or phenomena, including economic or practical worth, market value, or usefulness.

In philosophy, ethics, and social sciences, discussions of values distinguish between different kinds of value and the role they play in judgment and decision-making. Debates about which values should guide policy, education, and social life often involve multiple values, their hierarchy, and how they interact with norms and institutions. While väärtused is a frequent parallel plural form in nominative usage, väärtusi remains a common form in sentences that place values in a broader or indefinite context.