likaisen

Likaisen is the genitive singular form of the Finnish adjective likainen, meaning dirty or filthy. The word is used to describe nouns in a way that indicates possession or association in phrases where the noun is in the genitive case. For example, likaisen kaupungin asukkaat translates to "the inhabitants of the dirty city." In the basic, nominative sense, one would say likainen katu for "a dirty street" or likainen keho for "a dirty body." The form likaisen appears whenever the noun it modifies is in the genitive, or in compound noun phrases where the modified noun is possessed.

Etymology and related forms: Likainen is derived from the Finnic root lik- meaning dirt or grime, with the common Finnish adjectival suffix -nen. The word has parallels in related Finnic languages, reflecting a shared semantic field around dirt, impurity, or filth. The corresponding adverbial or nominal derivatives include likaisuus (the quality of being dirty) and the noun lika (dirt, grime).

Usage notes: Likainen carries a clear negative connotation and is suited for tangible dirt as well as figurative impurity, such as moral or ethical filth in some contexts. When describing people, the term can be insulting or harsh, so its use depends on tone and context. In more neutral or formal registers, synonyms like epäpuhtaus or puhdas (for clean) may be preferred, depending on the nuance and specificity desired.

See also: lika (dirt), likaisuus (filthiness), epäpuhtaus.