olennaista

Olennaista is a Finnish adjective meaning essential, important, or central. It is used to describe elements or aspects that are most crucial to a matter, as opposed to details that are minor or incidental. In everyday language as well as in formal writing, olennaista signals that something is of primary importance for understanding, decision-making, or action.

The base form of the word is olennainen. Olennaista is the partitive singular form, and it commonly appears in constructions such as "Olennaista on..." which translates to "The important thing is..." or "The essential point is..." It can also function as a nominal phrase meaning "the essential thing." Other related forms include olennaisen (genitive) and olennaisuudet (plural), while the noun for essence or essential nature is olennaisuus.

Usage notes: Olennaista emphasizes core importance or priority and is often preferred in discussions of main objectives, key facts, or critical considerations. It is widely used in academic, journalistic, and policy contexts, as well as in everyday speech when highlighting what matters most. It should not be confused with synonyms like tärkeä or välttämätön, which carry slightly different nuances (importance in general vs. necessity or indispensability).

Related terms include olennaisuus (the essence or essential nature) and olennainen (the adjective meaning essential). The concept is central in Finnish discourse about focus, priorities, and decisive factors.

Examples:

- Olennaista on löytää kestävä ratkaisu.

- Tässä kappaleessa keskitytään olennaiseen.

- Päätökseen vaikuttivat olennaiset seikat.

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