epäiltynä

Epäiltynä is a Finnish grammatical form used to express that someone is in the state of being a suspect. It functions as the essive case of the adjective or noun epäilty, meaning “suspect.” In practice, epäiltynä translates roughly to “as a suspect” or “under suspicion,” and is most often used with copula constructions such as on or oli to describe someone's current status in a case or investigation.

In use, epäiltynä denotes a temporary or situational status rather than guilt. It is common in legal, journalistic, and formal contexts to refer to individuals who have been identified by authorities as suspects but who have not been convicted. For example, Henkilö X on epäiltynä murhasta means “Person X is under suspicion in a murder case.” The form highlights the role or state of the person within an ongoing inquiry, rather than a final determination of guilt.

Relationship to related terms: epäilty (suspect) is the base noun or adjective, while epäily means suspicion or doubt. Epäiltynä specifically marks the state of being a suspect, distinguishing it from terms that describe established guilt (syyllinen) or mere doubt (epäilys). The construction is part of Finnish grammar’s essive case, used to express temporary states or roles.

Summary: epäiltynä is a specialized Finnish form indicating that someone is under suspicion, typically in legal or investigative contexts. It emphasizes status within an ongoing process rather than a declaration of guilt.