paholaisen

Paholainen is the Finnish word for the devil, a figure that appears in Christian tradition as a personal being representing evil. The form paholaisen is the genitive singular of paholainen, used to indicate possession or association, such as in phrases like paholaisen teot (the devil’s deeds) or paholaisen vaikutus (the devil’s influence). The word can also function as a general reference to evil forces or malicious influence in both religious and literary contexts.

Etymology and form: Paholainen is built from the adjective paha, meaning evil, with the common Finnish suffix -lainen that denotes a person associated with a quality. The word has long been part of Finnish religious vocabulary and has been used in translations of Christian texts as well as in folklore and literature. The genitive singular paholaisen follows standard Finnish noun inflection patterns, with the plural form paholaiset and genitive plural paholaisten.

Usage and cultural context: In Finnish religious discourse, paholainen is typically understood as a personified devil. In secular use, the term can appear metaphorically to refer to extreme misfortune, temptation, or moral wrongdoing, similar to usage in many languages that employ a devil figure to symbolize evil forces. The word remains common in traditional storytelling, poetry, and modern fiction, where it can carry symbolic rather than strictly theological meaning.

Declension overview:

- Singular: nominative paholainen; genitive paholaisen; partitive paholaista.

- Plural: paholaiset; genitive paholaisten.

Overall, paholaisen is a standard genitive form used to attribute qualities, actions, or influence to the devil in Finnish language and literature.