arvoisten

Arvoisten is a Finnish grammatical form, not a separate lexical entry. It is the genitive plural form of the adjective arvoisa, which means “esteemed” or “honorable.” In Finnish, adjectives decline for number and case, so arvoisa in plural is arvoisat in the nominative, and arvoisten in the genitive plural. This form is used when the adjective governs a noun in the genitive plural or when indicating possession or association with a group described as esteemed.

Usage examples are common in formal and ceremonial language. For instance, arvoisten kuulijoiden edessä means “in front of the esteemed listeners,” with arvoisten modifying kuulijoiden in the genitive plural. In direct address, speakers often use arvoisat, as in Arvoisat herrat ja naiset, meaning “Esteemed ladies and gentlemen,” where the form functions as a vocative plural.

Etymologically, arvoisa derives from arvo, meaning value or esteem, with the suffix -isa forming an adjective meaning “worthy” or “esteemed.” The word follows standard Finnish adjective inflection rules, so arvoisten is the expected genitive plural form.

Arvoisten has no separate semantic domain beyond its grammatical role. It appears primarily in formal texts, ceremonial speeches, official communications, and other contexts where a respectful register is desired. In everyday spoken Finnish, speakers may opt for simpler or less formal expressions, depending on context and audience. See also Finnish grammar, adjectives, and case inflection.