Erityisluonteinen

Erityisluonteinen is a Finnish adjective meaning “of a special nature” or “characteristic of a special kind.” It is formed by combining the bound morpheme erityis- (special, particular) with luonteinen (inherent, natural, characteristic). The term is mainly used in formal or technical language, rather than in everyday speech.

The word describes something that possesses distinctive, defining properties that set it apart from ordinary cases. It signals that the subject’s nature is intrinsic and central to its identity, rather than incidental or temporary. Because of this, erityisluonteinen is often found in discussions about needs, problems, features, or conditions that require tailored consideration, treatment, or interpretation. Examples in context might include erityisluonteinen tarve (a need of a special nature) or erityisluonteinen ongelma (an issue of a special nature).

Relation to related terms: eriyis- elements appear in other compound words such as erityisopetus (special education) and erikois- (another prefix related to distinction). Compared with merely saying something is special (erityinen), erityisluonteinen places emphasis on the intrinsic character or nature of the subject.

Usage note: The term tends to appear in written, precise, or policy-oriented Finnish. Its nuance distinguishes inherent, defining characteristics from more general or temporary attributes, making it useful for careful description in academic, legal, medical, or administrative contexts.