mattainen

Mattainen is a Finnish adjective meaning matte, dull, or low-gloss. It describes surfaces, finishes, or images that reflect only a small amount of light. The term is widely used in design, art, photography, printing, textiles, and automotive finishes to indicate a non-shiny appearance. In English, mattainen is typically translated as matte or matte-finish.

Etymology and form: Mattainen is formed from the noun/adjective matta (matte) with the suffix -inen, yielding “having the quality of matte.” It can be used both attributively (mattainen pinta) and predicatively (pinta on mattainen). A related form is mattamainen, meaning matte-like, and compounds such as mattapintainen (matte-surfaced) or mattapinta.

Usage notes: The opposite term is kiiltävä, meaning glossy or shiny. In product descriptions and technical writing, mattainen finishes are contrasted with kiiltävät finishes. Colors or materials may be described as mattainen to indicate a non-glossy appearance under certain lighting conditions.