Epäjäykiksi

Epăjäykiksi is a Finnish word-form used to express a transition into a state of not being stiff, i.e., becoming more flexible or relaxed in a physical or figurative sense. It is formed from the prefix ep- (not, un-) and the adjective jäykkä (stiff), with the suffix -ksi indicating a change of state. The form epäjäykiksi is the translative plural, used when the subject undergoes a transformation into this not-stiff state.

In everyday usage, epäjäykiksi describes a process or result, most often in physical contexts such as muscles, tendons, or joints becoming less tense or more pliable. It is also found in descriptive or metaphorical language to refer to the loosening of rigid attitudes, practices, or rules. The term is more common in written or technical Finnish—such as sports science, physiotherapy, or movement descriptions—than in casual speech.

Grammatical notes: epäjäykiksi functions as a predicate adjective in sentences with a form of becoming, for example with verbs like muuttua (to become) or tulla (to come to be). Typical constructions include plural subjects: Lihaksia venytellessä lihakset voivat muuttua epäjäykiksi. Hartiat voivat olla epäjäykiksi tämän harjoituksen jälkeen. In figurative use, a rigid process or system may be described as epäjäykistyä, meaning to become less rigid.

Epäjäykiksi is a specialty term in Finnish linguistic and descriptive contexts and may appear primarily in physiotherapy, sports communication, or analytical prose.