Suvaitsevainen

Suvaitsevainen is a Finnish adjective meaning tolerant or broad-minded, particularly toward opinions, beliefs, or ways of life that differ from one’s own. It can describe people, organizations, or policies that are open to dialogue, diversity, and minority rights. In contemporary usage, it is often employed in social and political contexts to characterize an accommodating or permissive attitude.

Etymology

The term is formed from the concept of tolerance with the common Finnish adjectival suffix -inen. It is related to the noun suvaitseminen (tolerance) and to the broader family of terms describing tolerance and forbearance in Finnish.

Usage and nuances

Suvaitsevainen generally carries a positive or neutral connotation, signaling openness and acceptance. It is used in discussions of education, governance, media, and public discourse to describe attitudes toward pluralism, freedom of expression, and minority rights. Depending on context, the word can also be used critically to imply excessive relativism or a lack of firm standards, though such use is less common than the favorable sense.

See also

Suvaitsevaisuus (tolerance), toleranssi (tolerance), moniarvoisuus (pluralism).