päällistä

Päällistä is a Finnish noun in the partitive singular form of päällinen, meaning something that is on top of something else—a cover, an outer layer, or a topping. In everyday language the term is most often used in cooking and pastry contexts to refer to a topping or decoration added to food.

In food contexts, päällistä may refer to fruit on a cake, a sugar glaze, chocolate sauce, or whipped cream used as a dessert topping, or cheese on pizza. The exact dish can vary, and the word is commonly used with verbs such as laittaa (to put on) or lisätä (to add).

Outside food contexts, päällistä can refer to any decorative or protective overlay, but in technical or precise language more specific terms such as päällyste (coating) or päällystys (overlaying) are often used. The choice of term depends on register and specificity.

Etymology and grammar: Päällistä is the partitive singular form of päällinen, which denotes a cover or outer layer. The word is related to broader Finnish vocabulary for coverings and decorations and inflects like other Finnish nouns.