erilainen

Erilainen is a Finnish adjective meaning "different" or "unlike." It describes something that differs from a reference point, for example in comparisons or classifications. It can modify nouns as an attributive adjective (erilainen tapa, a different method) and can be used predicatively: "Se on erilainen" (It is different). In Finnish, erilainen inflects for number and case, with forms such as erilainen (singular nominative), erilaiset (plural nominative), erilaisen (genitive), erilaista (partitive).

Origin: The word is built from eri- meaning "different" or "separate" and the common suffix -lainen, which yields adjectives meaning "of a kind" or "belonging to."

Usage notes: erilainen covers a broad range of meanings from everyday contrast to unusual or distinctive. It is widely used in spoken and written Finnish and commonly pairs with kuin in comparisons (erilainen kuin). For emphasis, one may use more specific words such as poikkeuksellinen (exceptional) or monipuolinen (varied). The related noun erilaisuus expresses the quality or state of being different.

See also: erilaisuus. In Finnish discourse, the concept often appears in discussions of diversity, classification, and differences between groups or ideas, where erilainen helps describe how something differs from what is typical or expected.

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