Kääneltään

Kääneltään is a Finnish adverb meaning "in reverse," "backwards," or "upside down." It is often used to describe the manner in which something is done or oriented. For example, one might say that a book is read "kääneltään" if it is being read from back to front. Similarly, an object can be placed "kääneltään" if it is oriented in the opposite direction to what is considered normal or intended.

The word itself is derived from the Finnish verb "kääntää," which means "to turn" or "to reverse." The "-ltään" suffix indicates a manner or state. Therefore, "kääneltään" literally means "in a turned or reversed state."

In common usage, "kääneltään" can imply a deliberate act of reversing something, or it can describe an accidental or unintentional state of being reversed. For instance, a sign might be hung "kääneltään" by mistake, or a story could be told "kääneltään" to create suspense. It can also refer to a situation where things are not as they should be, implying a sense of disorder or incorrectness. The context in which "kääneltään" is used is crucial for understanding its precise meaning.