kunnollista

Kunnollista is a Finnish adjective form related to the word kunnollinen, meaning proper, decent, or respectable. It describes something that conforms to accepted standards or expectations, often in terms of behavior, work, or quality. The nuance is generally positive but modest, indicating adequacy rather than excellence.

Etymology and form: kunnollinen is formed with the suffix -llinen from the noun kunto (condition, state) or from a related root meaning a proper state. The form kunnollista is the partitive singular, used with nouns in partitive cases or in constructions where the complement is expressed in partitive, such as kunnollista työtä or kunnollista käytöstä. The basic nominative form for a masculine or neutral subject is kunnollinen: Hän on kunnollinen ihminen.

Usage and examples: kunnollista is common in everyday language and formal writing. It typically carries a constructive or evaluative sense, signaling that something meets ordinary standards of decency or care. Examples:

- Hän teki kunnollista työtä. (He did solid/adequate work.)

- Käytöksestä voi sanoa, että se oli kunnollista. (The behavior was proper/appropriate.)

- Se oli kunnollinen, varteenotettava ratkaisu. (That was a sensible, decent solution.)

Nuance and synonyms: kunnollinen is related to asiallinen, rehellinen, and kohtalainen, but each word carries its own shade. Kunnollista may feel slightly more formal or traditional; it can also be used ironically to temper praise.

See also: kunnollisuus (decency, propriety), kunto (condition), kunnollinen vs. hyvän/erinomainen in emphasis.