Eriävä

Eriävä is a Finnish adjective meaning that something is different, distinct, or capable of varying in relation to a reference point or other items. The term signals a quality that sets one element apart from others or that can differ across instances. In everyday Finnish, eriävä is relatively uncommon; more common synonyms for expressing difference are erilainen or eroavan.

The word is formed from the root eri-, meaning different, with the participial suffix -ävä, which is used to create adjectives describing a characteristic. Because of its formal tone, eriävä often appears in technical, academic, or glossary contexts rather than in casual speech.

Usage in context can include phrases such as eriävä piirre (a distinguishing feature) or eriävä ryhmä (a distinct group). In scientific or methodological writing, eriävä may be employed to denote properties or observations that differ across samples or conditions, although more common expressions such as muuttuva (changing) or vaihteleva (variable) may be preferred depending on the exact nuance.

Etymology and related forms: eri- derives from the concept of difference, and -ävä is a common Finnish suffix that forms adjectives indicating a quality or capacity. Related terms include erilainen (different), ero (difference), and eriytyminen (differentiation).

See also: erilainen, ero, eriytyminen, muutos.