Eitarkkaa

Eitarkkaa is a Finnish neologism used to describe statements, data, or claims that are not precise or lack sufficient detail. The word combines the negation ei with tarkkaa (precise, accurate) and is commonly written as eitarkkaa, though it can appear in two-word forms such as ei tarkkaa in more formal contexts. It is primarily found in informal online Finnish and in media commentary, where speakers aim to signal that a point should be treated with caution due to vagueness or incompleteness.

Etymologically, eitarkkaa is a straightforward negation-based construction in Finnish. As a relatively new and informal term, it has not entered standard dictionaries in all contexts, but its meaning is generally understood by speakers familiar with contemporary online discourse. The form can vary in usage, with some writers opting for ei tarkkaa in two words to reflect natural Finnish grammar, while others prefer the compact single-word version for emphasis.

Used mainly in informal writing and speech, eitarkkaa serves as a quick critique of precision. It often appears in discussions about statistics, sources, or claims that require more evidence. For example, a commentator might say that a given statistic is eitarkkaa to indicate that the numbers lack sufficient context or methodological detail. While it conveys a clear judgment about precision, it remains informal and is less common in formal reporting.

See also: epätarkka, epävarma, misinformation.