Valitseva

Valitseva is a Finnish word formed as the present active participle of the verb valita, meaning to choose. It functions as an adjective meaning “selecting” or “choosing” and, more broadly, “selective.” It can describe a person, a process, or an attitude characterized by making selections or exercising discernment.

In everyday Finnish, valitseva is less common than valikoiva, which is the standard term for “choosy” or “selective.” Valitseva tends to appear in more formal, analytical, or literary contexts, especially when signaling an ongoing action of choosing or a system that performs selection. The word can be used attributively, as in valitseva lähestymistapa (a selecting/choosing approach), or predicatively, and it inflects according to Finnish grammar.

Examples:

- Hänellä on valitseva ruokavalio, joka rajoittaa sokerin saantia. Translation: He has a selective diet that limits his sugar intake.

- Valitseva lähestymistapa ongelmaan toi useita vaihtoehtoja esiin. Translation: A selective approach to the problem brought forward several options.

- Käytetään valitsevaa prosessia, jossa tiedonlähteet arvioidaan. Translation: A selecting/choosing process is used in which information sources are evaluated.

Etymology: valitseva comes from valita with the present active participle suffix -va, giving the sense of “the one who selects” or “selecting.” Related terms include valikoiva (choosy, selective) and valinta (choice). See also valitseminen (the act of choosing).