Soveltuvalla

Soveltuvalla is the inessive singular form of the Finnish adjective soveltuva, which means suitable, applicable, or appropriate. The base adjective soveltuva describes something that fits a purpose, meets requirements, or is well suited for a given context. Finnish adjectives decline to agree with the noun they modify, so soveltuva becomes soveltuva, soveltuvalla, soveltuvaan, and so on depending on case and number.

Soveltuvalla is most commonly seen in phrases where the noun it modifies is in the inessive case (answering the question “in what way or on what basis?”) or when forming adverbial expressions. Examples include soveltuvalla tavalla meaning “in a suitable manner” and soveltuvalla pohjalla meaning “on a suitable basis.” In everyday use, the adjective may appear in attributive position before a noun, for example, soveltuva ratkaisu meaning “a suitable solution.”

Usage notes:

- Soveltuva is widely used in formal, technical, and evaluative language, such as planning, policy, education, and risk assessments.

- It is close in meaning to synonyms like sopiva and oikea, but soveltuva emphasizes fit for a specific purpose or context.

- The related noun soveltuvuus denotes the quality of suitability or applicability.

Translations:

- English equivalents include suitable, applicable, appropriate.

- Antonyms depend on context, commonly epäckäntynyt or epäsopiva (inappropriate or unsuitable).

See also:

- soveltuvuus (suitability)

- sopiva (proper, fitting)

- soveltaa (to apply, to adapt)

Soveltuvalla thereby functions as a versatile form for expressing “in a suitable way/on a suitable basis” and is a common component of Finnish evaluative and procedural language.