Päiväajan

Päiväajan is a Finnish term describing the daytime portion of a 24-hour cycle. The word combines päivä (day) and aika (time), and it denotes the period when there is daylight and ordinary daytime activity, in contrast to yöaika, the night period.

The term is commonly used in practical contexts such as schedules, pricing, and service availability. In written Finnish, the genitive form päiväajan is used in phrases that specify time-related distinctions, for example "päiväajan hinta" (price during the daytime), "päiväajan aukiolo" (opening hours during the day), or "päiväajan vuorot" (daytime shifts). The opposite period is referred to with yöaika.

Because daylight length changes with the seasons in Finland, the practical boundary between day and night may shift across the year, but the concept of daytime remains a fixed reference point for tariffs, planning, and communications. The term is also used when discussing daily routines and circadian rhythms, often in contrast to night-focused activity.

See also: Yöaika, Päivärytmi, Vuorokausi, Aukioloajat.