Reaalimaailman

Reaalimaailman is a Finnish term used to denote the tangible, non-digital world, as opposed to virtual, online, or imagined spaces. The base noun reaali-maailma combines reaali (real) and maailma (world). The form reaalimaailman is the genitive (or attributive) form, used when describing something related to or affecting the real world, for example reaалimaailman vaikutukset (effects in the real world) or reaalimaailman säännöt (rules of the real world).

Usage of the term spans everyday language, journalism, and academic discourse. It functions as a contrast to digitally mediated environments such as online platforms, virtual reality, or simulation. In media analysis and cultural studies, reaalimaailman konseptin (the concept of the real world) is invoked to discuss how online behavior, data collection, and digital policies translate into offline outcomes.

In discussions about technology, privacy, and ethics, reaalimaailman ulottuvuudet (real-world dimensions) emphasize consequences that occur outside screens and interfaces. The term is also used to articulate boundaries between offline and online experiences, for instance in debates about online harm leading to real-world harm, or the persistence of social norms beyond digital spaces.

Compared with its English counterpart real world, reaalimaailman is primarily a linguistic and cultural expression in Finnish. It is flexible in usage and may appear in both descriptive and analytical contexts, without representing a fixed doctrine or formal theory.