Pieniäkohtuullisia

Pieniäkohtuullisia is a rare or coined Finnish expression that combines the adjectives pieniä (small, little) and kohtuullisia (reasonable, moderate) in the partitive plural. In standard Finnish, the words would typically appear separately as pieniä kohtuullisia before a plural noun. The joined form, when it does appear, is usually a stylistic device in written text rather than a conventional lexical item.

Etymology and function: The term is built from two common Finnish adjectives, signaling a blend of smallness and proportional reasonableness. As a modifier, it describes quantities, measures, or actions that are intentionally modest and fair. Grammatically, it can modify a plural noun in the partitive, for example in phrases like pieniä kohtuullisia kustannuksia or pieniä kohtuullisia muutoksia. The single-word form is not standard orthography and is typically encountered in creative writing, rhetoric, or theoretical discussions to emphasize nuance.

Usage and context: Because it is not a widely attested or official phrase, pienia kohtuullisia tends to appear in analyses of language style or in speculative discussions about proportionality in budgeting, policy, or ethics. When used, it conveys a combined sense of restraint and fairness that goes beyond merely “small” or “reasonable” alone.

See also: Finnish grammar, compound words, neologisms, proportionality in language.

Note: For everyday Finnish, it is generally clearer to write pieniä kohtuullisia followed by a noun, rather than the compressed form.