jonkinhetkinen

Jonkinhetkinen is a Finnish adjective meaning temporary or of a certain moment, used to describe arrangements, measures, or conditions that are not intended to be permanent. It is most commonly placed before the noun (for example, jonkinhetkinen ratkaisu) and can also function predicatively in phrases such as “on jonkinhetkinen ratkaisu.”

Etymology and nuance: The term combines jokin (a certain, some) in its genitive form with hetkinen (momentary) derived from hetki (moment). The combination signals a status tied to a specific period or circumstance, i.e., provisional or contingent until a more lasting arrangement is established. It often carries a formal or administrative tone.

Usage: Jonkinhetkinen is frequent in formal, administrative, and legal language, as well as in policy discussions and journalism. It conveys temporariness without specifying a concrete duration and can imply that a change or an alternative is expected in the future. It may be used for policies, agreements, or procedures that are intended only for a transitional phase.

Nuance and related terms: It is close in meaning to tilapäinen (temporary) and väliaikainen (interim), but jonkinhetkinen emphasizes the contingent, momentary character within a particular context rather than the mere fact of being temporary. In everyday language, more common synonyms might be tilapäinen or väliaikainen, depending on the exact nuance.

Examples: Tämä on jonkinhetkinen ratkaisu, eikä sitä pidä pitää pysyvänä. Hallitus esittää jonkinhetkistä toimenpidettä kriisin torjumiseksi. Yritys käyttää jonkinhetkistä budjettia uuden tuotteen kehittämisen aikana.