kyseenalaista

Kyseenalaista is a Finnish word that can function as two related forms. First, it is the partitive singular form of the adjective kyseenalainen, meaning "questionable" or "in doubt." In this usage it appears in predicates and other contexts where a claim, statement, or situation is described as uncertain or under doubt. For example, Se väite on kyseenalaista means "That claim is questionable." The partitive form is common after verbs expressing state or negation, and it allows speakers to indicate doubt without making a definite judgment.

Second, kyseenalaista is the imperative singular form of the verb kyseenalaistaa, meaning "to question" or "to challenge." Used as a directive, it tells someone to question or critically assess something. For instance, Kyseenalaista tuo väite translates roughly to "Question that claim," and Kyseenalaista! can be used in a context where someone is urged to scrutinize a claim.

Etymology and usage notes: The adjective kyseenalainen derives from kyse, meaning a matter under discussion, and it has given rise to related nouns and verbs focused on questioning or doubt. In contemporary Finnish, kyseenalaista commonly appears in media, academic, and political discourse as a concise way to express skepticism or to call for critical evaluation. The term has a neutral to slightly evaluative nuance, depending on context and tone, and it is distinct from stronger judgments such as "epäilyttävä" or "nopeltavan kyseenalainen" in connotation.

See also: kyseenalaistaa, kyseenalainen, kyseenalaistaminen.