Realistinen

Realistinen is a Finnish adjective meaning realistic, pragmatic, or pertaining to realism. It is formed from the noun realisti (realist) with the common Finnish suffix -inen, which creates adjectives describing a property or quality. The word is used to characterize descriptions, artworks, methods, or attitudes that aim to reflect reality or to be practical rather than idealized.

In usage, realistinen appears in various contexts. In art and literature it refers to works that strive for accurate representations of everyday life, as in realistinen maalaus (realist painting) or realistinen kuvaus (realistic description). In philosophy, social sciences, and everyday speech it can describe approaches or attitudes that prioritize factuality and practical consequences, for example realistinen lähestymistapa (realistic approach) or realistinen näkemys (realistic viewpoint). The term often carries a pragmatic or down-to-earth nuance, contrasting with more idealized or fantastical expressions.

Grammatical notes: realistinen is declined as a standard Finnish adjective. Examples include: nominative singular realistinen; genitive singular realistisen; partitive singular realistista. In plural forms it becomes realistiset, with corresponding case endings (e.g., realistisen kuvan in genitive, realistista kuvaa in partitive).

Realistinen should not be confused with the noun realist (realisti) or the noun realism (realismi), which refer to the person or the movement rather than the descriptive quality. It is commonly found in compound phrases and everyday Finnish to convey a grounded, fact-based perspective.