poikkes

Poikkes is a Finnish term associated with deviation or detour. It denotes a departure from a planned route, path, standard, or line of reasoning. In everyday language, poikkes can describe a physical detour as in driving or walking, for example when someone “poikkesi” from the main road to a side street, or metaphorically when a discussion or project deviates from its original plan.

Etymology and usage: The term stems from the Finnish verb poiketa, meaning to deviate or stray. The concept of poikkes appears in both prose and reportage to indicate departure from an expected course. It can be used in technical contexts such as navigation, surveying, and urban planning, where a route that diverges from the planned path is described as a deviation. In everyday speech, poikkes captures the moment of straying from a chosen direction or consideration.

In literature and journalism, poikkes may be used to describe a narrative that diverges from conventional structure, or a decision that deviates from policy. The word is part of a broader family of Finnish terms for deviation, including poikkeama and poikkeus, which refer to the result and the exception, respectively.

Related terms: poiketa, poikkeama, poikkeus. See also Finnish language and general concepts of deviation.