Kömpelö

Kömpelö is a Finnish adjective meaning clumsy, awkward or ungainly. It describes a person whose movements are not smooth, a device or process that is difficult to use or cumbersome, or an action performed in a awkward or inelegant way. The term carries a mild negative tone but is common in everyday language and can be used playfully or critically depending on context.

As a modifier, kömpelö generally precedes the noun: kömpelö laite (a clumsy device), kömpelö liike (an awkward movement). It can describe actions, behavior, or design quality, for example kömpelö ratkaisu (an awkward solution) or kömpelö käyttöliittymä (a clumsy user interface). The adverb form kömpelösti expresses doing something in a clumsy way. The word inflects like a standard Finnish adjective, with comparative and superlative forms such as kömpelömpi and kömpelöin to indicate higher degrees of clumsiness.

In usage, kömpelö is typically used for mild, non-violent criticism; stronger terms exist for sharper critique. It can apply to people, machines, or processes, and often implies a lack of finesse rather than a moral shortcoming. The term is common in everyday speech and can appear in both neutral and humorous contexts.

Esimerkki: Hän kirjoitti kömpelösti käsin. Esimerkki: Tämä kömpelö laite hidastaa työntekoa.