Vaivallinen

Vaivallinen is a Finnish adjective describing something that requires effort, is tiresome, or is otherwise burdensome or troublesome. It is commonly used for tasks, processes, or situations that are inconvenient or demanding to handle.

Etymology and nuance: vaivallinen derives from the noun vaiva, meaning trouble, burden, or inconvenience, with the adjectival suffix -llinen, which marks a characteristic. The overall sense is that the thing in question is characterized by having to bear a burden or exert effort. The word has a somewhat formal or literary tone and can appear in written Finnish as well as in careful spoken language.

Usage and examples: vaivallinen is used to describe laborious or tedious work, as in vaivallinen tehtävä (a tiresome task) or vaivalloinen prosessi (a burdensome process). It can also refer to details or aspects that complicate a situation, such as vaivalliset yksityiskohdat (inconvenient details). Related terms include rasittava (burdensome or taxing), hankala (difficult), and työläs (laborious). Antonyms include vaivaton (without burden) and helppo (easy).

Variants and register: vaivallinen is understood in everyday Finnish but tends to appear more in neutral or slightly formal contexts. In highly colloquial speech, speakers might choose synonyms like rasittava or työläs. In contrast, vaivaton and helppo convey ease rather than burdensomeness.

See also: vaiva (burden, trouble) and vaivannäkö (effort or trouble expended).