Harmillisesti

Harmillisesti is a Finnish adverb that means “unfortunately,” “to one’s detriment,” or “in a way that is disadvantageous.” It is used to describe outcomes, situations, or developments that are regrettable or have negative consequences, without necessarily assigning fault to a person.

The word is formed from the adjective harmillinen, meaning harmful, unfortunate, or inconvenient, with the adverbial suffix -isesti. In Finnish, harmillisesti tends to carry a neutral to slightly formal tone and is more common in written or semi-formal contexts, such as reporting, narration, or analytical writing. In everyday speech, speakers might opt for valitettavasti (unfortunately) or a more direct description of the outcome.

Usage notes and nuances: harmillisesti highlights the undesired nature of an result rather than blame or moral judgment. It can begin a clause or be integrated mid-sentence and often accompanies verbs that express events or consequences, such as tapahtui, johtui, tai aiheutti. The adverb can convey a sense of disappointment or misfortune while remaining relatively objective.

Examples:

- Harmillisesti sade alkoi juuri kun olimme aloittamassa retken.

- Harmillisesti myynti jäi budjetoitua alhaisemmaksi.

- Harmillisesti projektin aikataulu viivästyi, mikä vaikuttaa kustannuksiin.

See also: harmillinen (harmful, unfortunate) and valitettavasti (unfortunately) as related terms in Finnish.

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