Pääadjektiivi

Pääadjektiivi is a term used in Finnish grammar to denote the head or main attributive adjective in a noun phrase. It identifies the adjective that bears the central descriptive load of the phrase, while other adjectives attached to the same noun function as modifiers or qualifiers. The concept helps describe the internal structure of noun phrases that contain several adjectives.

In usage, Finnish adjectives typically precede the noun (for example, “iso talo” meaning a large house). When multiple adjectives appear, the pääadjektiivi is the adjective that marks the primary attribute; the exact identification can depend on semantic emphasis and stylistic choices. Some traditions identify the pääadjektiivi as the adjective closest to the noun, though ordering can vary and there is no single fixed rule for all contexts.

Morphology: The pääadjektiivi, like other adjectives in Finnish, agrees with the noun in number and case, and the entire attributive sequence inflects with the noun. Semantically, the main adjective tends to express core property (size, age, quality), whereas other adjectives add secondary information (color, origin, material, evaluative nuance).

Terminology and variation: The notion of a “head” adjective is not universal across all Finnish grammars. Some grammars do not distinguish a dedicated main adjective and instead describe the adjective phrase in terms of attributes and modifiers rather than a head word. The term is common in teaching contexts and descriptive grammars in Finnish.

Examples:

- “iso punainen talo” – a large red house

- “pieni vanha puurakennus” – a small old wooden building