Eksameid

Eksameid is the Estonian word for exams, specifically the partitive plural form of eksam. It is used to refer to examinations in education and assessment, such as tests taken by students in schools or universities.

In Estonian grammar, eksameid expresses an indefinite, non-total quantity of examinations. It often appears in phrases like mitmeid eksameid or mõned eksamid, where the partitive plural form denotes “some exams” or a non-specified subset of exams. The opposite nominative plural form for the subject of a sentence is eksamid, while eksameid is used when the quantity is not being specified.

In practice, eksamid can refer to various types of assessments, including kirjalikud eksamid (written exams) and suulised eksamid (oral exams). At the national level, the term riigieksam (state exam) is used for a standardized examination at the end of secondary education; its plural is riigieksamid. In higher education, exams administered by universities or faculties are also commonly called eksamid, and these may determine course or degree outcomes.

Etymology and history: the Estonian word eksam is borrowed from Latin examen, likely via German Examen, and has been part of standard Estonian education terminology since the 19th or early 20th century. The form eksameid reflects Estonian plural morphology and is the common way to refer to “some exams” in written and spoken language.