Oletuse

Oletuse is the Estonian noun meaning an assumption or a hypothesis. It is used in both everyday language and formal discussions to refer to a proposition accepted for the sake of argument, model construction, or initial inquiry.

In logic, mathematics and science, an oletus functions as a premise that may be temporarily assumed to derive consequences or simplify analysis. It is different from a hüpotees, which is intended to be tested, and from an aksioom, which is accepted as a basic, foundational truth. In practice, researchers distinguish between assumptions underlying a model and the hypotheses that experiments aim to confirm or refute.

Oletused are common in the scientific method as conditions or premises that define the scope of a model or theory. They help to focus reasoning and clarify what is being explained, but they also delimit validity: if an underlying assumption is violated, the conclusions drawn from the model may no longer hold.

Etymology and usage notes: the word is formed from the verb olema (to be) with the noun-forming suffix -tus. It has long been used in Estonian to denote a mental act of supposing, and it commonly appears in research papers, proposals and classroom exercises to describe provisional or simplifying propositions.

See also: hypothesis, assumption, logic, scientific method. In Estonian discourse, oletus is a practical and flexible term used to frame arguments, design models, and guide inquiry.