Hyvyyden

Hyvyyden is the genitive singular form of the Finnish noun hyvvyss? Wait—correcting: the base noun is hyvvyys (goodness). Hyvyyden therefore means “of goodness” and is used to refer to the quality or state of being good. In Finnish, hyvvyys denotes moral virtue, benevolence, or the intrinsic worth of acting well. The word can describe both abstract ethical concepts and concrete acts that embody goodness, and it appears across religious, philosophical, and literary contexts.

In religious and philosophical usage, hyvyyden is often discussed as an attribute of moral reality or of a divine being. For example, Jumalan hyvyyden is a common phrase meaning “the goodness of God.” In ethical discourse, references to hyvyyden can address questions about what constitutes good conduct, benevolence, and the value of moral virtue. The term is closely related to, but distinct from, the more general adjective hyvä (good) and the related noun hyvyyteen, hyvyyttä and other inflected forms used to indicate possession, direction, or source.

Linguistic notes: hyvyyden is formed from hyvvyys by adding the genitive suffix -n. The root hyv- is linked to the Finnish word for “good” (hyvä) through the abstract noun suffix -ys. In Finnish literature and Bible translations, hyvyyden appears in expressions describing kindness, generosity, and moral worth, often in combination with other nominal or adjectival modifiers.

See also: hyvvyys, hyväntekeväisyys (charity), hyve (virtue), hyveellinen (virtuous).