Õppus

õppus is an Estonian noun meaning an exercise or drill, used to describe a planned activity aimed at practicing, testing, or improving skills. It is commonly applied in military, educational, and emergency-management contexts, as well as in professional training programs. In military and civil defense language, an õppus often refers to a coordinated training event that simulates real-world operations, command and control, and cooperation between units or agencies. In civilian education and industry, it can denote structured practice sessions, simulations, or scenario-based trainings.

Etymology and nuance: the word derives from the verb õppima, meaning to learn, with the noun-forming suffix -us. Compared with similar Estonian terms such as harjutus or treening, õppus tends to convey a formal, planned exercise, frequently at a larger scale or with an official or strategic purpose, especially in military or public-safety contexts. Harjutus is more commonly used for regular practice tasks and individual or small-group drills.

Contexts and examples: in the armed forces, õppused are scheduled training events that develop tactical procedures and interoperability. In education, an opdracht-based õppus may be used for hands-on practice within a curriculum. In disaster preparedness, a civil-safety õppus tests coordination between responders, shelters, and communication systems. Large-scale regional or international joint õppused are often organized to assess readiness and collaboration.

See also: harjutus, treening, drills, simulations, training.