liialti

Liialti is a Finnish adverb meaning "excessively" or "to an excessive degree." It is used to indicate that an action, quality, or tendency goes beyond what is appropriate or desirable, and it can modify verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses. In everyday Finnish, liialti often conveys a strong evaluative sense without specifying a precise amount.

Etymology and form: Liialti is derived from the adjective liiallinen, which means "excessive" or "overly." As an adverb, liialti functions to express degree and emphasis. It is part of standard Finnish and appears in both spoken and written language, though its use can vary by register.

Usage: Common sentence patterns include statements about actions or qualities described as excessive. For example: "Hän puhui liialti" (He spoke excessively) and "Se on liialti kallis" (It is too expensive). Liialti can intensify assertions and is typically more emphatic than the more general "liian," which also means "too" but is used in a broader range of contexts.

Register and variation: Liialti is generally neutral to slightly emphatic in tone and is suitable for many contexts, from journalism to everyday conversation. It is not tied to a particular technical field, though speakers may prefer different degrees of emphasis depending on style and formality.

See also: liian, liiallinen.