matalalla

Matalalla is a Finnish adverb meaning “at a low level” or “low down.” It describes a state or position that is lower than usual or expected, and it can apply to physical height, surface level, acoustic level, or more abstract measures such as intensity, frequency, or ambition. In figurative use, matalalla can convey modesty, subdued emphasis, or lower risk.

In usage, matalalla typically modifies verbs or adjectives to indicate the degree or level of what is being described. It can refer to presence or occurrence at a lower point relative to a reference standard, and it often appears in both descriptive writing and everyday speech. It is part of a broader set of Finnish adverbial expressions that compare levels or intensities, such as korkealla or korkeammalla for “high” or “at a higher level.”

The form is derived from the adjective matala meaning “low,” plus the adverbial suffix -lla. As a fixed adverb, matalalla does not function as a noun, but rather conveys the level or height of a described attribute or phenomenon.

See also: Finnish language, Finnish adverbs, matala (low), korkea (high).