Pahempi

Pahempi is a Finnish adjective meaning worse, serving as the comparative form of the word paha (bad). It is used to express a higher degree of badness or severity relative to something else.

Form and origin: In Finnish, adjectives typically form comparatives by adding the suffix -mpi to the positive stem. Pahempi is derived from paha by this pattern. The word is used to compare two or more items, with the comparison usually introduced by kuin (than). For example, Tilanne on pahempi kuin ennen (The situation is worse than before).

Usage: Pahempi describes moral, physical, or situational negativity and is common in both spoken and written Finnish. It appears in journalism, literature, and everyday speech. It can modify singular or plural nouns and often appears with kuin to establish comparison, or with intensifiers to emphasize its degree.

Examples:

- Tapahtumat ovat pahempia kuin koskaan. (The events are worse than ever.)

- Se on pahempi rikos kuin aiemmin mietittiin. (That is a worse crime than previously thought.)

- Hän on pahempi kuin luultiin. (He is worse than was thought.)

Notes: Pahempi carries a negative or evaluative sense depending on context, but remains a standard descriptive term in formal and informal Finnish. It functions as an adjective within noun phrases and does not form a standalone noun.

See also: paha; comparative adjectives in Finnish; Finnish grammar on adjectives.