Nähtävä

Nähtävä is a Finnish word that functions as an adjective and as a present passive participle derived from the verb nähdä, meaning "to see." It broadly conveys the idea of something that can be seen, is visible, or is noteworthy enough to attract attention. In everyday language it is also used in expressions that imply something is “to be seen” or “worth seeing,” sometimes with the nuance of a must-see.

Grammatically, nähtävä is formed with the present passive participle suffix -vä attached to the verb stem nähd- from nähdä. It agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case, and it can describe a broad range of referents, from physical objects to abstract concepts. For example, a phrase like nähtävä paikka can be translated as “a place to see” or “a must-see place,” though in many contexts synonymous expressions such as nähtävyys or eriko, noteworthy places might be preferred.

Usage and nuance: nähtävä emphasizes visibility or noteworthy character rather than the mere act of seeing. It is common in descriptive writing and travel language to indicate what is worth viewing, while more precise terms such as näköinen (visible) or näytettävä (to be shown) may appear in other contexts. The more specialized noun nähtävyys specifically denotes a sight or attraction.

Related terms include nähdä (to see), näytettävä (to be shown), and nähtävyys (sight or attraction). Nähtävä contrasts with other Finnish descriptors of visibility, such as näkyvä (visible) or nähtäväksi (to be seen, in a finite mood).