epäselvästi

Epäselvästi is a Finnish adverb meaning “in an unclear way” or “not clearly.” It describes the manner in which something is spoken, written, or understood, indicating a lack of clarity rather than certainty or precision. It is commonly used to comment on communication, instructions, explanations, or signals that fail to convey their meaning clearly.

Etymology and forms: Epäselvästi is formed from the negation prefix epä- meaning “not/unclear” combined with selvä, meaning “clear,” and the adverbial suffix -sti. The related adjective is epäselvä (unclear) and the noun form is epäselvyys (unclearness or lack of clarity). The adverb is versatile and can modify verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses.

Usage notes: Epäselvästi is appropriate in both everyday and formal Finnish when noting a lack of clarity. It can describe speech (Hänen puheensa kuului epäselvästi), written text (Ohjeistus oli epäselvästi laadittu), or questions and instructions (Kysymys esitettiin epäselvästi). In more precise contexts, writers may prefer synonyms such as epäselvä, hämmentävä, or epäyhtenäinen, depending on whether the emphasis is on vagueness, confusion, or inconsistency.

Examples:

- Kysymyksen esitys oli epäselvästi muotoiltu.

- Hän vastasi epäselvästi, joten en saanut selvää.

- Ohjeet olivat epäselvää kirjoitettu, mikä aiheutti virheitä.

Relation to other terms: Epäselvyys (noun) denotes the state of being unclear. Verbs like selventää or täsmentää refer to clarifying or specifying, providing a contrast to epäselvästi. The term is neutral and widely applicable across spoken, written, and media Finnish.