monimutkaiset

Monimutkaiset is the plural form of the Finnish adjective monimutkainen, meaning complex or intricate. The word describes things that have many interconnected parts, steps, or layers, or ideas that are difficult to understand. It applies to systems, processes, problems, instructions, relationships, and objects with multiple components.

In usage, monimutkaiset agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case. For example, monimutkaiset järjestelmät means complex systems, monimutkaiset ohjeet means complicated instructions, and monimutkaiset suhteet means complex relationships. The corresponding singular form is monimutkainen, with the comparative monimutkaisempi and the superlative monimutkaisin (or monimutkaisimmat in plural).

Etymology: The adjective is formed from moni- meaning many and mutka meaning bend or twist, with the suffix -ainen turning it into an adjective. The combination conveys the sense of “having many twists” or “consisting of many parts,” hence complex or intricate.

Usage notes: Monimutkainen and its plural form monimutkaiset are standard in academic, technical, and everyday Finnish. The term can carry neutral or negative nuance depending on context, but often simply denotes complexity.

Related terms: yksinkertainen (simple), monimutkaisuus (complexity), monimutkaisempi (more complex), monimutkaisin (most complex).