linnunmuotoisen

Linnunmuotoinen is a Finnish adjective meaning bird-shaped or in the shape of a bird. It is used to describe objects or figures that resemble the form of birds, often in design, art, or decorative contexts. The term is commonly found in product descriptions, museum labels, and design critiques.

The word is formed from linnun, the genitive form of lintu (bird), combined with muotoinen (shaped). In Finnish, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in case and number, so linnunmuotoinen appears in the nominative singular, while linnunmuotoisen is the genitive singular form used when the adjective modifies a noun in that case (for example, linnunmuotoisen korun, bird-shaped necklace).

Usage and examples: linnunmuotoinen is typically applied to jewelry, sculptures, textiles, and architectural details. Examples include linnunmuotoinen riipus (bird-shaped pendant), linnunmuotoinen koriste (bird-shaped ornament), or linnunmuotoisen kehyksen puitteissa (within a bird-shaped frame). The term can refer to both abstract and recognizable bird silhouettes, ranging from stylized abstractions to more literal representations.

Related terms and variations include other -muotoinen compounds such as koiranmuotoinen (dog-shaped) or kukan muotoinen (flower-shaped), illustrating a productive pattern in Finnish for describing shapes. As with other adjectives, linnunmuotoinen and its declined forms are used in conjunction with nouns to convey precise shape-based descriptions in Finnish.

See also: Finnish morphology of -muotoinen compounds; descriptive design terms; bird symbolism in art.