Õpitavat

Õpitavat is an Estonian word that functions as the partitive singular form of the participial adjective õpitav, meaning “learnable” or “to be learned.” It is used to describe something that can or should be learned, rather than something that has already been learned.

Formation and meaning: The adjective õpitav is formed with the derivational suffix -atav, which attaches to a verb stem to indicate capability or potential. In this case, from the verb õppima (to learn), õpitav conveys that learning is possible or intended. The partitive form õpitavat appears when the described material or object is indefinite or treated as a portion or quantity in the sentence, for example with a noun in the partitive case.

Usage and examples: Õpitavat is most often found before a noun in contexts such as education and language learning. Example: Ma otsin õpitavat materjali. (I am looking for learnable material.) See on õpitav teema. (That is a learnable/educational topic.) The form can also appear in adjectives placed after the copula in indicative statements, depending on sentence structure.

Relation to related forms: The base adjective õpitav contrasts with the past participle õpitud (learned) and with other -atav adjectives that describe potential or capability, such as katsetatav (testable) or loetav (readable). The choice between õpitav and Õpitud depends on whether the emphasis is on the process of learning or on the result of having learned.

See also: Estonian grammar, participial adjectives, partitive case, -atav suffix, language learning terminology.