Vartaloltaan

Vartaloltaan is a Finnish expression used to describe a person’s physique or build. It translates roughly as “in terms of body” or “by body type” and is commonly employed in descriptive writing, biographical notes, and sports reporting to focus on physical form rather than height, weight, or other attributes.

The form is built from the noun vartalo (body) with the suffix -ltaan, yielding an adverbial phrase that functions as a descriptor for the subject’s bodily build. It is typically placed before an adjective that describes the physique, for example hoikka (slim), lihaksikas (muscular), or tanakka (sturdy). The construction emphasizes the body as the dimension being described, rather than other qualities.

Usage and examples: It is widely used in written Finnish to convey a concise, objective sense of someone’s shape. For instance, Hän on vartaloltaan hoikka. (He is slender in build.) Mies on vartaloltaan kookas. (The man is tall/build-wise tall.) It can describe humans and, less commonly, animals when the intent is to present physical form.

In summary, vartaloltaan is a concise, neutral tool for foregrounding body type in Finnish descriptions, complementary to other phrasing that describes appearance or stature.