kunnollisuutta

Kunnollisuutta is a Finnish noun describing the quality or state of being kunnollinen, that is, proper, decent and respectable. The concept covers conduct that aligns with social norms of decency, as well as reliability and moral integrity in behavior or work. In usage, kunnollisuutta is the partitive form of kunnollisuus and is used when the quality is described or quantified, for example in phrases referring to the presence or absence of decency.

The term derives from kunnollinen (proper, decent) with the noun-forming suffix -isuus; the partitive form is kunnollisuutta. It is a relatively formal or literary word and is more common in discussions of ethics, citizenship, or character than in casual speech. The word can carry normative weight, signaling expectations about how one ought to behave or act in a given context.

Usage and nuance vary with context. Kunnollisuutta implies a standard of conduct considered appropriate by social or cultural norms, and it may be used descriptively or evaluatively to express that decency is lacking or present. In contemporary everyday Finnish, more common terms for everyday talk include soveliaisuus (civility) or appropriate behavior, whereas kunnollisuus can appear in philosophical, political, or literary discussions, or in historical texts, where a more formal register is desired.

See also: The term should not be confused with kunnallisuus (municipal or local-related meaning) or kunnallinen (municipal). Translation equivalents include decency, propriety, propriety, or integrity, depending on context.