lievästi

Lievästi is a Finnish adverb meaning “mildly,” “to a small degree,” or “to some extent.” It is used to soften a statement or to indicate a degree of moderation, and it commonly appears in phrases such as lievästi sanottuna (“to put it mildly”). The word often signals that the speaker chooses restraint rather than strong assertion.

Lievästi is formed from the adjective lievä (mild, lenient) with the adverbial suffix -sti, a productive pattern in Finnish. It belongs to the class of adverbs and is used in both spoken and written language. In practice, lievästi can modify adjectives, verbs, or whole clauses, generally to introduce caution or understatement. Common collocations include lievästi sanottuna, lievästi epävarma, and lievästi erimielinen, among others.

Examples illustrate typical usage:

- Lievästi sanottuna tämä ehdotus kaipaa lisäselvitystä.

- Hinta on lievästi korkeampi kuin odotettu.

- Hän on lievästi eri mieltä esityksen kanssa.

Synonyms and related terms include hieman, hiukan, and maltillisesti, which convey slightness or moderation. Antonyms convey stronger intensity, such as voimakkaasti or rajusti. Lievästi is often chosen to balance clarity with tact, particularly in critical or evaluative contexts, and it is most appropriate when the speaker aims to avoid harsh or definitive judgments.