Myöhäiset

Myöhäiset is a Finnish noun phrase that translates roughly to “the late ones” or “latecomers.” It is formed from the adjective myöhäinen (late) with the plural suffix -iset and can function as a plural noun referring to people who arrive late or to groups characterized by lateness. Beyond its literal use, the term can describe late-stage or delayed phenomena in a general sense, depending on the context.

Etymology and grammar provide the main sense of the term. Myöhäinen is the base adjective meaning late, and the plural form myöhäiset is used when referring to multiple individuals or items associated with lateness. The word can appear in everyday language as well as in more figurative or literary contexts.

Usage and context. In daily Finnish, myöhäiset commonly refers to attendees who arrive after the start of an event or schedule. Metaphorically, the phrase can denote late-stage developments, delayed processes, or marginal groups within a social or cultural frame. In Finnish literature, music, and media, myöhäiset may be used as a thematic motif to evoke time, lateness, aging, or the idea of those who stand apart from the main group. While it can function as a title or recurring element in some works, there is no single, canonical subject universally identified by this name.

See also. Myöhäinen, late; myöhäisyys, lateness.