nälkäillä

Nälkäillä is a Finnish term that translates to "to go hungry" or "to starve" in English. It refers to the state of experiencing hunger, often to the point of physical discomfort or deprivation. The word can be used in various contexts, from everyday experiences of feeling hungry to more severe situations of prolonged food scarcity.

In a general sense, nälkäillä can describe the feeling one gets when it's time for a meal, or when food is temporarily unavailable. For example, a child might say "olen nälkäinen" (I am hungry), or an adult might mention "olen nälkäillyt koko päivän" (I have been hungry all day) if they haven't eaten properly.

Beyond temporary hunger, nälkäillä can also denote a more serious condition of chronic hunger or starvation. This can occur due to poverty, famine, or lack of access to food resources. In such cases, the term carries a grave meaning, highlighting the suffering and severe health consequences associated with food deprivation. Finnish literature and historical accounts may use nälkäillä to describe periods of hardship and famine experienced by the population. The concept is fundamental to understanding human needs and societal challenges related to food security.