Intensiivinen

Intensiivinen is a Finnish adjective meaning both “intense” and “intensive.” It is used to describe things that have a high degree of force, strength, concentration, or duration. The word is formed with the Finnish suffix -inen from roots related to “intensiivi” or “intensiteetti,” and is cognate with Swedish intensiv and English intensive. The overall origin traces back to Latin or French roots meaning intensity.

In usage, intensiivinen can refer to physical phenomena, conditions, activities, or styles. Examples include intense light (intensiivinen valo), intensive training (intensiivinen harjoittelu), and intensive care or treatment (intensiivinen hoito). It can also describe mental or emotional states, such as intensive concentration (intensiivinen keskittyminen). The term is common across everyday language, media, science, and education.

Grammar-wise, intensiivinen is a gradable adjective that inflects like other Finnish adjectives. The basic form is intensiivinen; it declines in cases (intensiivisen, intensiivisestä, intensiivistä, etc.). The adverbial form is intensiivisesti. Related nouns include intensiteetti (intensity) and intensiivisyys (the quality of being intense).

In contemporary Finnish usage, the term frequently appears in compound expressions such as intensiivinen kurssi (an intensive course) or intensiivinen työjakso (a high-engagement work period). Depending on context, it signals focus, compactness, or resource demand, ranging from scientific descriptions to everyday descriptions of pace and emphasis.