selvästi

Selvästi is a Finnish adverb meaning clearly, plainly, or distinctly. It is formed from the adjective selvä (clear, obvious) plus the adverbial suffix -sti, and is commonly used to indicate that something is perceptible, evident, or done in a clear manner.

In usage, selvästi modifies verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses to express clarity of perception, certainty, or degree. It can describe how something is spoken or written, how an observation is perceived, or the degree to which one thing is true compared to another. For example, Hän puhui selvästi means “He spoke clearly,” and Tämä on selvästi parempi vaihtoehto means “This is clearly the better option.” It also appears in phrases such as Se on selvästi nähtävissä, “It is clearly visible.”

Nuances and register: selvästi conveys a straightforward, observable clarity and is common in both spoken and written Finnish. It is stronger than simply “clearly” in everyday speech, but it is less emphatic than ilmiselvästi (obviously) in expressing certainty. It can be used in formal or informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language.

Related forms and alternatives: common close terms include ilmiselvästi (obviously) for stronger emphasis and ilmeisesti (apparently) for reported perception. As an adverb, selvästi does not inflect for subject or tense and remains unchanged across sentences.

See also: Finnish adverbs formed with the -sti suffix; grammar of adverbs in Finnish; expressions of certainty and perception in Finnish.