Õpetuslikku

Õpetuslikku is the partitive singular form of the Estonian adjective õpetuslik, meaning didactic or instructional. It describes content, tone, or style that is intended to teach, explain, or convey guidance. In use, it typically modifies a noun in the partitive case, for example in phrases like õpetuslikku sisu or õpetuslikku kirjandust.

Etymology and formation: The adjective õpetuslik is derived from the noun õpetus, meaning instruction or teaching, with the suffix -lik forming an adjective meaning “characterized by” or “having the quality of.” Like other Estonian adjectives, its form changes with case and number, and the form -ku seen in õpetuslikku is the partitive singular used when describing a noun in the partitive case.

Usage and nuance: Õpetuslikku is used to indicate that something has a didactic or instructional purpose, often implying that it aims to teach or moralize. In educational, literary, or media analysis, it can be neutral, but it may also carry a subtle connotation of being overly instructive or prescriptive, depending on context. It is distinct from related terms such as pedagoogiline (pedagogical), which emphasizes teaching methods and pedagogy, or moraalne (moral) and didaktiline (more explicitly didactic in a guiding sense).

See also: Didactic, pedagogical, didaktiline, moraalne.

Examples: Õpetuslikku sisu kajastav raamat (a book that features didactic content); õpetuslikku tonaalsusega film (a film with a didactic tone); see teksti on õpetuslikku ilmet (the text has a didactic character).