häntäkään

häntäkään is a Finnish word that translates to "not even his/her/its tail" or "not even its tail" in English. It is a compound word formed from "häntä" meaning "tail" and the enclitic particle "-kään", which negates and emphasizes the preceding word, often translating to "not even" or "neither". The "-kään" particle is attached to the word it modifies.

The phrase häntäkään is typically used in a figurative sense to express a complete lack of something, often implying something very small or insignificant. For example, one might say "hän ei antanut häntäkään" which means "he/she didn't give even his/her tail" or more idiomatically, "he/she didn't give anything at all," or "he/she was completely stingy." It suggests that not even the smallest, least valuable part of oneself or something related to them was offered or given.

This expression highlights a complete unwillingness to part with anything, no matter how minor. It is a colloquialism used to describe a person's extreme reluctance to share, help, or give. The imagery of a tail, often the least noticeable or valuable part of an animal, emphasizes the absolute scarcity of what is being withheld. It is not a literal statement about an animal's tail but a metaphorical expression of complete non-giving or extreme selfishness.