kapealla

Kapealla is the adessive singular form of the Finnish adjective kapea, meaning narrow. It is not a standalone noun but an inflected form used to describe a noun in a location or state, typically indicating that something is narrow or constrained.

In ordinary use, kapealla appears with a noun in the corresponding case to express where something is or what condition it is in. Common examples include kapealla tiellä (on a narrow road) and kapealla polulla (on a narrow path). The form can also convey figurative narrowness, such as a tight situation or limited options, when paired with appropriate nouns, e.g., kapealla rajalla (on a narrow boundary) or kapealla viimeistelyllä (with a tight finish).

From a grammatical standpoint, kapealla is part of Finnish adjective inflection. The base adjective kapea describes width or breadth, and adding the -lla suffix changes the word to an adessive form to indicate location or state on or at something narrow. This pattern is typical of Finnish adjectives, which must agree with the noun they modify in number and case.

Usage notes: kapealla is most natural when describing physical narrowness or constrained space. In metaphorical contexts, it often appears in idiomatic expressions referring to margins, limits, or precarious circumstances, with the meaning guided by the accompanying noun.

See also: Finnish grammar, adjectives, adessive case.