Tasavertaista

Tasavertaista is the partitive singular form of the Finnish adjective tasavertainen, meaning equal or on par. It is used before a noun in the partitive case to describe something characterized by equality or parity, such as tasavertaista kohtelua (equal treatment) or tasavertaista kilpailua (parity in competition). The form is common in legal, policy, and public-discourse contexts where the principle of non-discrimination or equal opportunity is discussed. It is not a separate concept by itself but an inflected form of the adjective.

Etymology and grammar: tasavertainen derives from tasavertai- on the root combining tasa- (equal) and verta- (to compare or be like). In Finnish, adjectives agree with the noun in number and case, so tasavertainen has multiple forms, including tasavertaisen (genitive singular), tasavertaista (partitive singular), and tasavertaiset (plural).

Usage and nuance: tasavertaista typically emphasizes equality of treatment or status in relation to a noun. It is closely related to but distinct from tasa-arvo (equality in rights) and tasavertaisuus (the state or quality of being equal). In practice, tasavertaista is often used in policy documents, guidelines, media, and discussions about fairness and nondiscrimination.

Examples: "Kysymyksen mukaan kaikille on annettava tasavertaista kohtelua." "Toteutettavan ohjelman tavoitteena on tasavertaista pääsyä palveluihin." See also tasavertaisuus, tasa-arvo, yhdenvertaisuus.