Todelliset

Todelliset is a Finnish adjective meaning real, actual, or true in the sense of existing in reality rather than in imagination. It is used to describe things that correspond to fact or reality, such as events, circumstances, or objects. In everyday language, todelliset often contrasts with theoretical, fictional, or hypothetical, and it can modify both countable and uncountable nouns.

The word inflects for number and case like other Finnish adjectives. The basic form is todellinen (singular nominative); the plural nominative form is todelliset. Other forms include todellisen (genitive) and todellisia (partitive or plural genitive in certain cases). Finnish adjectives do not require articles, so todelliset can stand alone when the context makes the meaning clear.

In mathematics, todelliset luvut is the standard Finnish term for real numbers, the numbers on the number line that include both rationals and irrationals. The concept is central in analysis and calculus and is contrasted with imaginary or complex numbers. In mathematical contexts, todellinen corresponds to the English word real and is used consistently to denote existence on the real number line rather than abstract or imaginary constructs.

Etymology: The term is related to Finnish concepts of reality and truth, with todellisuus meaning reality and totuus meaning truth, reflecting the sense of correspondence to fact or existence.