Arvelemisesta

Arvelemisesta is a Finnish noun form that denotes the act or practice of guessing, conjecture, or estimation. It refers to reasoning based on partial information, intuition, or provisional assessment rather than on solid data or formal methods. The term is used in both everyday language and more formal texts to indicate that conclusions rest on guesswork or speculative thinking.

Etymology and grammatical notes: The word belongs to the Finnish family of expressions around guessing and estimation. It is formed by nominalizing a verb meaning “to guess” and inflecting with a suffix that expresses relation to a source or basis (for example in forms that translate roughly as “from guessing” or “about guessing”). Related terms include arvaus (a guess), arvailla (to guess), and arvelu or arveleminen (the act of guessing). In context, arvelemisesta can refer to the source of an assertion or the process by which a tentative judgment is reached.

Usage: In academic and public discourse, arvelemisesta is often contrasted with evidence-based reasoning, statistical estimation, or deterministic analysis. It is used to acknowledge uncertainty, frame speculative conclusions, or discuss the limitations of knowledge when data are incomplete. Writers may note that “arvelemisesta riippuvat johtopäätökset” or that “arvelemisen perusteet ovat heikot,” highlighting the provisional nature of conclusions.

See also: Arvaus, arvaaminen, arvelu, epävarmuus, ennuste.