Teoriniai

Teoriniai is a Lithuanian term used as an adjective meaning theoretical. It stems from teoria (theory) and the suffix -inis, forming forms such as teorinis (theoretical) and teoriniai (theoretical, plural). The word appears before nouns to describe theory-dependent concepts, for example teoriniai modeliai (theoretical models), teoriniai pagrindai (theoretical foundations), and teoriniai tyrimai (theoretical studies). It contrasts with practical or empirical terms, such as praktiniai or empiriniai, which emphasize application or observation.

In scholarly usage, teoriniai designates components that concern theories, concepts, frameworks, or methodological debates rather than hands-on experimentation. Theoretical work aims to develop, critique, or integrate theories, synthesize definitions, and examine the implications of abstract reasoning. In education, courses or modules labeled as theoretical focus on conceptual foundations, literature reviews, and analytical approaches rather than laboratory or fieldwork.

When capitalized, Teoriniai can appear as a section heading or the title of a publication, seminar, or program focused on theory. In this capitalized form, it functions more like a proper name within a document or series, while in ordinary text the lowercase teoriniai is the standard grammatical form. The word is widely used across disciplines such as philosophy, linguistics, sociology, and the natural sciences to distinguish theory-oriented inquiry from practice-oriented work.