Nopeat

Nopeat is a Finnish term that derives from the adjective nopea, meaning fast or quick. When used as a substantive in its plural form, nopeat translates to “the fast ones” and can refer to people, animals, vehicles, or concepts characterized by speed. In everyday language it functions without a definite article, with the clear reference provided by context.

Grammatically, nopeat is the nominative plural form of the adjective used as a noun. The corresponding genitive form is nopeiden (of the fast ones). The superlative of the adjective is nopeimmat (the fastest), which is used in contexts where speed is being singled out. As a noun, nopeat can combine with various nouns, as in nopeat kilpailijat (the fast competitors) or nuo nopeat autot (those fast cars).

Usage and examples illustrate how nopeat operates as a plural noun rather than a pure adjective. For instance: Nuo nopeat ovat jo paikalla. (Those fast ones are already here.) Nopeat kilpailijat voittivat kilpailun. (The fast competitors won the race.) In Finnish, the form is flexible and relies on surrounding nouns to specify what is being described as fast.

See also: Nopea, the base adjective meaning fast, and Finnish adjectives used as nouns. The term nopeat is chiefly a functional linguistic form in Finnish, used to refer to groups distinguished by speed rather than as a standalone concept with a fixed independent meaning.