Hyväkelpo

Hyväkelpo is an adjective in Finnish that denotes someone or something deemed suitable, proper, or acceptable according to a standard of conduct or quality. In historical or literary Finnish, it could describe a person as decent, trustworthy, or of good standing, and it could also refer to a proposal, arrangement, or object that meets required standards.

Etymology and sense factor into its meaning: the word is formed from hyvän (good) and kelpo (fit, eligible). Kelpo itself carries the sense of being capable or appropriate, so hyvåkelpo emphasizes that something is good enough or appropriate for a given purpose. The compound nature reflects a normative evaluation of worthiness or acceptability.

Usage and status: hyvåkelpo is relatively rare in modern everyday Finnish and is often considered archaic or literary. It appears mainly in older texts, formal or moralistic writing, and historical documents. In contemporary language, closer terms are kelpoisuus (fitness or eligibility), soveltuvuus (applicability or suitability), or hyväksyttävä (acceptable).

Related forms and nuances: the adjective hyvätapainen is used for well-behaved or well-m mannered behavior, while kelvoton denotes something or someone unacceptable or unfit. Hyväkelpoisuus as a noun captures the idea of propriety or suitability in a given context.

See also: kelpoisuus, kelvoton, soveltuvuus, hyväksyttävä.