Metaforallinen

Metaforallinen is an adjective in Finnish that means “metaphorical” or “related to metaphor.” It describes language, imagery, or thinking that uses metaphor. The word is formed from the noun metafora (metaphor) with the suffix -llinen, which produces adjectives indicating a characteristic or relation.

In linguistic and literary contexts, metaforallinen is used to label expressions or styles that rely on metaphor. Common collocations include metaforallinen kieli (metaphorical language), metaforallinen ilmaisu (metaphorical expression), and metaforallinen kuvaus (metaphorical description). The term is often contrasted with kirjaimellinen, meaning literal, and with other figurative categories such as symbolinen or ironinen.

Examples and usage ideas: the sentence Aika on rahaa is a metaforallinen kuvaus of time as a resource. In poetry and prose, metaforallinen kieli can heighten emotional or conceptual effects. In language teaching and analysis, distinguishing metaforallinen from kirjaimellinen helps learners interpret figurative meaning and rhetorical intention. The concept may also apply to broader stylistic descriptions, such as metaforallinen proosa (metaphorical prose) or metaforallinen runous (metaphorical poetry).

Notes: while many figures of speech are metaphorical, not every figurative expression is easily labeled as metaforallinen. The degree of metaphorical intensity can vary from subtle to overt, and usage can differ by genre and author.