Flirtivää

Flirtivää is a Finnish adjective used to describe someone or something characterized by flirting or flirtatious behavior. It is derived from the verb flirtata (to flirt) and forms adjectives that describe manner, appearance, or speech intended to attract romantic or sexual interest. The word is most commonly found in informal speech, journalism, and literary descriptions, and it frequently appears in noun phrases such as flirtivää käytöstä (flirtatious behavior) or flirtivää pukeutumistapaa (flirtatious dressing style).

Usage implies a light, playful, or provocative tone rather than a strictly sexual intent. It can describe a temporary mood, a personality feature, or a distinctive communication style. The term is gender-neutral and can apply to any person. In translation, flirtivää is often rendered as flirtatious, coquettish, or flirty, depending on context.

In studies of contemporary Finnish sociolinguistics and dating culture, flirtivää is discussed as a linguistic signal used to manage social and romantic interaction. While commonly descriptive, the word can carry positive, neutral, or negative connotations based on tone, context, and the speaker's attitude toward flirtation.