Kunnioittavia

Kunnioittavia is a Finnish adjective form meaning "respectful" or "deferential" when used in the plural partitive. It is the partitive plural form of the adjective kunnioittava, and it is typically used to modify plural nouns in contexts where the object is indefinite or not fully specified.

In Finnish, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in number and case. The plural partitive form kunnioittavia appears with plural nouns in partitive cases, such as kunnioittavia eleitä (respectful gestures), kunnioittavia sanoja (respectful words), or kunnioittavia tapoja (respectful practices). By contrast, the singular nominative form kunnioittava would be used for a single item in the basic predicate or as a modifier of a singular noun in the nominative: esimerkiksi kunnioittava käytös (a respectful behavior).

Etymology and nuance: kunnioittava derives from the verb kunnioittaa, meaning to honor or to show respect, with the typical adjective-forming suffixes (-va/-vä). The word conveys a qualitative attribute related to behavior, speech, or attitudes that express respect, politeness, or consideration toward others or toward authority.

Usage notes: kunnioittavaa/kunnioittavia forms describe respectful or courteous behavior, expressions, or customs. It is commonly contrasted with synonyms such as kohtelias (polite) or hivenen more formal or emphasizes the aspect of earning or showing respect. In many contexts, kunnioittavat can describe actions that are appropriate and considerate rather than merely courteous.

See also: kohtelias, hidas, arka? (note: see related Finnish terms for politeness and respect).