Kunnioitettuja

Kunnioitettuja is a Finnish term formed as the partitive plural of the past passive participle kunnioitettu, meaning those who are respected or honored. The base participle comes from the verb kunnioittaa, which means to respect or to honor. Kunnioitettuja functions as an adjective in the partitive plural and is used when the noun it modifies is in the partitive case, or when referring to an indefinite or plural group.

In usage, kunnioitettuja typically appears in formal or ceremonial contexts to describe people who have received respect or recognition. It can also be used more broadly to refer to esteemed groups or individuals in written or official language. The corresponding nominative form would be kunnioitetut, used when the group is the subject of the sentence.

Examples illustrate its function as a modifier of a noun in the partitive. For instance, tilaisuudessa oli paljon kunnioitettuja vieraita describes an event with many honored guests. Another example is the phrase kunnioitettujen arvojen vaaliminen, referring to the protection or upholding of honored values such as fairness and integrity.

Notes on nuance: kunnioitettuja conveys that the subjects have been the recipients of respect or honors, rather than merely being respected in a general sense. It is common in news reports, official statements, and ceremonial prose, where named or unnamed groups are described as having been honored. Related terms include kunnioittaa (to respect) and kunnioitus (honor or respect given).