Ympäristössä

Ympäristössä is the inessive form of the Finnish noun ympäristö, meaning “in the environment” or “in the surroundings.” It denotes location within a physical, ecological, or social context and is used in science, planning, journalism, and everyday language to describe where something occurs or exists.

In environmental science, geography, urban planning, and media, ympäristössä refers to the conditions, features, or dynamics present within a given place. The term can describe natural environments such as forests or rivers, built environments such as cities or housing districts, or social environments such as communities or institutions. Examples include: Leikkikentän ympäristössä on puita. Kaupungin ympäristössä on monipuolinen kulttuuritarjonta.

Grammatically, ympäristössä is formed from the noun ympäristö with the inessive suffix -ssä/-ssä, which marks “in” or “inside.” Related forms include ympäristöstä (from the environment) and ympäristöön (to the environment). The word belongs to the general concept family dealing with surroundings and milieu.

Etymology and usage notes: ympäristö derives from the idea of what surrounds something, linked to the verb ympäröidä (to surround). The term is widely used across disciplines to discuss ecological, infrastructural, and social contexts, and it is versatile for describing conditions, resources, and phenomena within a particular area.