Laajat

Laajat is a Finnish adjective meaning wide or broad. It is used to describe both physical dimensions and abstract breadth, such as extent, scope, or variety. The form laajat is the plural nominative and plural accusative, as in laajat alueet (broad areas), laajat mahdollisuudet (broad opportunities), or laajat näkökulmat (wide perspectives). The corresponding singular forms are laaja (nominative), with inflections such as laajan (genitive) and laajaan (allative). The adverbial form is laajasti, meaning widely.

Etymology and cognates: Laaja is a native Finnish word, part of the standard Finnic vocabulary for describing width or extent. Its meaning in Finnish is closely related to related terms in other Finnic languages, such as Estonian lai meaning wide. The word forms a productive set with related nouns and verbs, including laajuus (extent) and laajentaa (to widen).

Usage notes: Laajat can describe physical spaces, landscapes, or objects with considerable breadth, as well as figurative domains like possibilities, knowledge, or viewpoints. In writing, laajat is common in descriptive, analytical, or formal prose. When used with a noun in different cases, the adjective declines to agree with the noun, for example laajassa kaupungissa (in a broad city area) or laajojen portfoliokokonaisuuksien (of broad portfolio components).

See also: laaja, laajuus, laajentaa, laajentuminen.