mutkikkaissa

Mutkikkaissa is a Finnish adjective form used to describe something that is complex, winding, or full of twists. In everyday language it is used both literally and metaphorically to emphasize non-straightforwardness in roads, events, or reasoning. The expression appears in writing, journalism, and spoken Finnish as a way to convey intricacy or difficulty without specifying concrete details.

Etymology and form: Mutkikkaissa derives from mutka, meaning bend or twist, combined with the adjectival suffix -ikas (characteristic of) and the locative suffix -issa, yielding the sense “in twists” or “in intricacies.” The form is typically used with plural nouns in the inessive case (ending -issa/-issä) to denote being inside the twists or complexities described.

Usage and examples:

- Literal usage: maantien mutkikkaissa kurveissa on heti nähtävissä, miksi ajo on vaativaa (the road’s winding curves show why driving is demanding).

- Metaphorical usage: kirjassa on mutkikkaissa juonissa odottamattomia käänteitä (the book contains twists in its intricate plots).

- Situations: mutkikkaissa tilanteissa on tärkeää pysyä rauhallisena (in complicated situations it is important to stay calm).

See also: mutka, mutkikas, mutkikkaat. The term is a common illustrative device in Finnish prose and journalism for signaling complexity without detailing every element.