Limaiset

Limaiset is Finnish and functions as the plural form of the adjective limainen, meaning slimy, slippery, or viscous. It is used to describe plural nouns that have a moist, mucus-like, or coating texture. For example, limaiset kivet (slimy rocks) or limaiset Ojien pengerrykset? But we should avoid questionable examples. A clearer one is limaiset kädet (slimy hands) or limainen pinta (slimy surface). The base word lima means slime or mucus, and the suffix -inen forms adjectives indicating a characteristic.

Etymology and form: Limainen derives from lima (slime) with the standard Finnish adjectival suffix -inen. The plural nominative form is limaiset, which accompanies plural nouns in the subject or complement position. The word belongs to everyday Finnish vocabulary and appears in both descriptive and casual contexts.

Usage notes: Limaiset describes physical properties of damp, mucus-covered surfaces or organisms, especially in informal or descriptive prose. It can also appear in metaphorical or evaluative usage to characterize people or situations as unscrupulous or morally questionable, though such figurative use tends to be vivid and somewhat negative.

See also: Lima, mucus; limakalvo, mucus membrane; limaisuus, the noun form referring to the quality of being slimy. Limaiset is common in spoken Finnish and in descriptive writing when a tactile, sensory effect is desired.