teaduslikud

Teaduslikud is Estonian for the plural form of the adjective teaduslik, meaning scientific or related to science. It is used to describe nouns that pertain to science, research, or method and is placed before a plural noun, as in teaduslikud uuringud (scientific studies) or teaduslikud tõendid (scientific evidence).

Etymology and formation: The word is formed from the noun teadus (science, knowledge) with the suffix -lik, which creates adjectives meaning “related to” or “characteristic of.” Like other Estonian adjectives, teaduslikud agrees with the noun it describes in number and case, so it takes the plural form teaduslikud when modifying a plural noun.

Grammar and usage: Teaduslikud functions as an attributive adjective. It can appear in various cases depending on the sentence: for example, teaduslikud uuringud in the nominative plural, teaduslike uuringute in the genitive plural, and teaduslike meetodite in the genitive plural form when describing possession or relation. In everyday usage, it signals that the referenced object or activity adheres to scientific methods, evidence, and standards rather than being purely theoretical or speculative.

Common contexts: Teaduslikud is frequently found in academic, scientific, and policy discourse. It appears in phrases such as teaduslik publikatsioon (scientific publication), teaduslikult valideeritud tulemused (scientifically validated results), and teaduslikud meetodid (scientific methods). It is often contrasted with terms like akadeemiline (academic), teoreetiline (theoretical), or rakenduslik (applied) to clarify the nature of research or knowledge.

See also: Teadus, metoodika, uurimus.