Epäluonnollisesti

Epääluonnollisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning in an unnatural way or unnaturally. It is used to describe actions, appearances, or phenomena that seem inconsistent with what is natural or expected, often conveying a sense of artificiality, eeriness, or contrivance. The term is common in everyday language as well as in literary, film, and journalistic contexts when something appears unusual or not in line with normal expectations.

Form and etymology: The adverb is formed from the adjective epäluonnollinen (unnatural) by adding the adverbial suffix -sti. The prefix epä- marks negation or opposition, and luonnollinen derives from luonnon (nature) and denotes naturalness. Thus epäluonnollisesti literally means “in an unnatural way.” The word is standard in Finnish and can appear in both formal and informal registers.

Usage and nuance: Epäluonnollisesti typically carries a evaluative or critical nuance, signaling that the observed phenomenon seems perceptibly contrary to natural behavior or ordinary explanation. It is commonly used to describe movements, sounds, atmospheres, or sequences that feel staged, eerie, or implausible. While it can describe real irregularities, its strength often implies a judgment that something is not genuine or is out of place in a given context.

Examples: Hän liikkui epäluonnollisesti nopeasti. Ääni kuului epäluonnollisesti tasaisena. In both cases, the adverb softens the description with a sense of unnaturalness that invites interpretation or critique.