Esillä

Esillä is a Finnish adverb used to indicate that something is on display, in view, or in public. It describes objects or topics that are physically visible or that are being publicly considered, discussed, or presented. The form originates from the verb phrase olla esillä, with esillä functioning as the predicative or adverbial form in various tenses and constructions.

Etymology and meaning: The term comes from the idea of “being in front of observers” and is closely tied to visibility and public exposure. It is commonly used to describe items in a display context as well as topics that are currently under public attention or debate.

Usage: In museum or exhibition contexts, taulu on esillä means “the painting is on display.” A broader use covers public discourse: asia on esillä or keskustelu on esillä to signify that an issue is being discussed or presented to the public. The phrase can appear in different tenses, for example iki: taulu on esillä, taulu oli esillä, taulu on ollut esillä. It can also be combined with phrases like esillä oleva to describe something that is currently on display.

Grammatical notes: Esillä is typically used with the copula olla to form a predicate, and it can function in past or perfect constructions (oli esillä, ollut esillä). It is opposed by piilossa, meaning hidden or out of sight, and often signals public visibility or attention rather than mere spatial location.

See also: piilossa, näyttely, public visibility, media attention.