älyttömässä

älyttömässä is the inessive singular form of the Finnish adjective älyttömäinen, meaning “brainless,” “foolish,” or “lacking sense.” The base form älyttömäinen describes someone or something as lacking intelligence or good judgment. The inessive ending -ssä marks “in” or “inside” a state, so älyttömässä is used when referring to a noun that is described as being in a state of foolishness or senselessness. For example, the sentence Olemme älyttömässä tilanteessa translates to “We are in a ridiculous/silly situation.”

Etymology and morphology: älyttömäinen is formed from the noun äly (intelligence) with the negative pattern göt-ting, yielding a meaning of “lacking intelligence.” The adjective declines like other Finnish adjectives, and its inessive form is älyttömässä. The corresponding noun form is älyttömyys, meaning “stupidity” or “foolishness.” The word can carry strong negative connotations and is generally considered insulting when aimed at a person.

Usage and nuance: älyttömässä is used to describe situations, actions, or people in a way that emphasizes a perceived lack of sense, reason, or judgment. It rankles more than milder descriptors and should be used with awareness of its harsh tone. In broader Finnish, the related adverbial intensifier älyttömästi or the common adjective älyttömän before adjectives can convey extreme degree, though these forms are distinct from the inessive älyttömässä.

See also: äly, älyttömäinen, älyttömyys, älytön.

Note: As a pejorative term, älyttömässä typically appears in informal or expressive registers rather than formal writing.