Metaforisesti

Metaforisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning "in a metaphorical way" or "figuratively." It signals that a statement or description should not be taken in a literal sense but as a figure of speech. The term derives from metafora (metaphor) and the adverbial suffix -isesti, forming the related adjective metaforinen (metaphorical) and the adverb metaforisesti (metaphorically). It sits in opposition to kirjaimellisesti (literally) in discussions of language and interpretation.

In usage, metaforisesti is common in literary criticism, rhetoric, journalism, and everyday discourse when speakers want to emphasize that their wording represents a symbolic or imaginative sense rather than a factual description. It can accompany verbs or stand alone to frame an ensuing figurative statement. For example, one might say: Hän puhui metaforisesti, kun kuvaa tilanteen kuin taistelua; aika on rahaa, ja tämän lauseen voidaan tulkita metaforisesti. Such usage helps readers or listeners distinguish between surface meaning and deeper, symbolic intent.

Additionally, metaforisesti helps mark the scope of interpretation, indicating that metaphorical reading applies to the entire clause or to specific expressions within it. It is often paired with other rhetorical terms, such as metafora, kielikuva, or simbolismi, to discuss how language constructs meaning beyond the literal level. See also: metafora, kielikuva, kirjaimellisesti.

Note: The term is primarily a linguistic and stylistic marker in Finnish; its applicability depends on the context and the writer’s or speaker’s intention to invoke figurative than literal sense.