iloinen

Iloinen is a Finnish adjective meaning cheerful, happy, or glad. It is used to describe a positive emotional state in a person, an animal, or an atmosphere.

Etymology and related forms: The word comes from the noun ilo, meaning joy, with the -inen suffix to form an adjective. Thus iloinen literally connotes “full of joy” or “characterized by joy.” Related forms include the noun iloisisuus (joyfulness) and the adverb iloisesti (cheerfully).

Grammar and usage: In Finnish, iloinen inflects for number and case and agrees with the noun it modifies; there is no gender distinction. It is used both predicatively and attributively. Examples: Hän on iloinen (He/She is happy). Iloinen lapsi (a cheerful child), iloinen koira (a happy dog). The comparative and superlative forms are iloisempi (more cheerful) and iloisin (the most cheerful). The word can describe people, animals, or environments, and often appears in phrases such as iloinen mieli (a joyful mood), iloinen ilme (a cheerful expression), or iloinen paikka (a cheerful place).

Usage notes: Iloinen is common in everyday Finnish and versatile in tone, ranging from neutral to warmly positive. It pairs naturally with nouns denoting mood, appearance, or atmosphere and is a staple descriptor in contemporary and literary Finnish.

See also: ilo (joy), ilonaihe (subject of joy), ilonpito (festivity), riemu (delight).