Epätoivottujen

Epätoivottujen is a Finnish term meaning "the unwanted ones" and is used to describe people or groups perceived as socially or morally undesirable. As a noun in plural genitive form epätoivottujen, it commonly appears in scholarly texts and historical accounts to discuss marginalization, exclusion, and welfare policies. The base adjective epätoivottu combines the negating prefix epä- with toivottu, "desired" or "wished-for," yielding "not-desired" or "unwanted."

In historical contexts, epätoivottujen has been used to refer to those outside the prevailing social order—such as beggars, vagrants, criminals, exiles, or others lacking formal protection or status. The term denotes social perception rather than a formal legal category, and its boundaries shift with time and place.

In modern Finnish usage, epätoivottujen is uncommon and can carry pejorative connotations. It is more often encountered in academic discussion, literary works, or critical journalism when addressing themes of exclusion, welfare, and policy responses toward marginalized groups.

Notes: The term is descriptive rather than prescriptive and should be used with awareness of historical and ethical implications.