Oikeellainen

Oikeellainen is a Finnish adjective that is used infrequently in modern standard Finnish. It typically denotes something that is rightful, proper, or legitimate in a general sense, or, less commonly, something that is correct or precise. In contemporary usage, however, speakers and writers more often rely on oikeellinen, laillinen, or oikeudellinen when referring to correctness or legality.

Usage and register

The term is largely considered archaic, literary, or dialectal in everyday Finnish. It may appear in older texts, religious or moral discourse, or in stylistically marked writing. Because oikeellainen is not common in current standard language, its exact sense can shift with context, and readers may interpret it as aiming for propriety or rightful status rather than strict legal meaning.

Relation to related terms

Oikeellainen lies in the same semantic field as oikea (right, correct) and oikeus (law, justice). Yet for legal contexts the standard terms are laillinen (legal, lawful) and oikeudellinen (relating to law). For notions such as correctness or propriety in a general sense, oikeellinen or oikea-based expressions are typically preferred over oikeellainen in modern usage.

Etymology and form

The word is formed with the common derivational suffix -llainen, producing an adjective meaning “of the nature of” or “characterized by.” It is linked to the roots oikea and oikeus through shared semantic ground, even though its modern usage is limited and stylistically marked.

See also

oikea, oikeellisuus, oikeus, oikeudellinen, laillinen, oikeelliset periaatteet

Note

Because oikeellainen is not widely used today, readers encountering it should interpret it as a formal or historical term rather than a standard contemporary synonym for legal or correct.