pikainen

Pikainen is a Finnish adjective meaning quick, prompt, or swift. It is used to describe actions, responses, or tasks that are carried out in a short time or without delay. Compared with the more general term nopea, pikainen often carries a nuance of immediacy and brevity, emphasizing brevity of time rather than just speed.

In usage, pikainen typically modifies a noun and is common in both written and spoken Finnish. It occurs in phrases such as pikainen vastaus (a quick answer), pikainen selvitys (a brief/concise report), or pikainen tarkastus (a quick inspection). The word can also appear in expressions that stress brevity or urgency, for example in journalistic or administrative contexts where a fast, concise action is needed. The adverbial form is pikaisesti, as in tarkastelu tehtiin pikaisesti (the review was done quickly).

Etymologically, pikainen is formed from the root pika- meaning 'fast' or 'rapid' with the standard Finnish adjectival suffix -inen. The prefix pika- appears in several Finnish compounds to convey immediacy or brevity. The term is established in contemporary Finnish and is suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts.

See also: synonyms and related terms in Finnish, such as nopea (fast) or välkkyvä (swift), as well as discussions of brevity-related expressions in Finnish language resources.