porrastettu

Porrastettu is a Finnish adjective meaning “stepped” or “tiered.” It describes something that is arranged in steps, levels, or terraces, or that shows a stepped progression. The word is formed from porras, meaning “step” or “stair,” with the suffix -ettu, which creates adjectives indicating a state or quality.

Common uses are found in architecture, landscape design, and descriptions of terrain. In architecture and urban design, porrastettu describes a façade, roofline, or building that has a stepped profile with multiple horizontal levels or terraces. In landscaping, porrastettu maasto refers to terrain that has been shaped into a series of steps, such as terraced slopes for erosion control or cultivation. In art, sculpture, or product design, porrastettu arrangements place elements in a stepwise sequence or in stacked layers. More generally, it can describe any object or process that presents in discrete levels rather than a smooth, continuous gradient. The term is relatively common in technical or design-focused Finnish.

Etymology and usage notes: porrastettu derives from porras (“stair” or “step”) with the derivational suffix -ettu, indicating a state or quality. There is no single, field-wide definition; the precise meaning depends on context. Related terms include porrastus (the act of creating steps) and terassimainen (terrace-like).