Perinnäisenä

Perinnäisenä is a Finnish adverb formed from the adjective perinnäinen, meaning inherited, hereditary, or traditional. It describes something that is passed from one generation to another, rather than being acquired through learning or environmental influence. The sense can cover biological traits, cultural practices, or other features that persist through lineage.

In everyday language and in general scientific writing, perinnäisenä can be used when the emphasis is on transmission across generations without specifying the mechanism. For precise genetic or medical language, Finnish often uses perinnöllinen to indicate hereditary traits caused by genes.

In anthropology, folklore, and cultural history, perinnäisenä is commonly used to refer to customs, beliefs, arts, or artefacts that are considered traditional or inherited within a group. The term thus marks continuity and transmission across generations.

Etymology and related terms: perinnäisenä is built from perintö (inheritance) and the adjective perinnäinen; related words include perintö, perinnöllinen, and perinnöllisyys, which address heredity more specifically. Perinnäisenä is a descriptive, non-technical designation that contrasts with acquired or learned characteristics.

See also: perintö, perinnöllisyys, perinnäinen.