monilapsiset

Monilapsiset is a term used in Finnish-language discourse to describe families or households that have exactly one child. The word is a compound: mono- meaning one, lapsi meaning child, combined with the plural adjectival suffix -iset, allowing it to function as an attributive modifier (monilapsiset perheet) or, less commonly, as a standalone noun phrase referring to such families.

Usage and scope:

In sociology and demography, monilapsiset is used to discuss family size distributions, child outcomes, and policy effects on households with a single child. Because the term is not standardized in Finnish dictionaries, its exact meaning can vary by source; some writers distinguish monilapsiset from yksilapsiset to emphasize demographic categorization rather than a strict count of children in a given household.

In media and policy debates, the term may appear when analyzing childcare needs, education demand, tax treatment, or social welfare implications associated with one-child families. The term can carry descriptive or normative connotations depending on context.

Limitations and notes:

Terminological ambiguity and regional linguistic variation are acknowledged; some sources may prefer alternatives such as yksilapsiset perheet. As with many contemporary terms, its use is evolving and may be more common in academic or policy discussions than in everyday speech.

See also: family size, demography.