sievä

Sievä is a Finnish adjective meaning "pretty," "handsome," or "neat." It describes an appearance or quality that is pleasant and balanced, often with a gentle, tidy charm. The term can apply to people, clothing, interiors, or landscapes. Compared with more neutral synonyms like "kaunis" (beautiful) or "nätti" (neat), sievä carries a nuance of amiable charm and sometimes a hint of quaint or traditional appeal.

In usage, sievä is part of standard Finnish and occurs in both spoken language and literature, though it is more likely to be found in contexts where a warmer or more affectionate tone is intended. It can describe someone or something as attractive in a modest, pleasant way without suggesting striking or dramatic beauty. Like other Finnish adjectives, sievä agrees with the noun in number and case when used attributively, and it can appear predicatively after linking verbs.

Etymology and history: The exact origin of sievä is uncertain. It is a longstanding part of Finnish vocabulary and is sometimes considered more archaic or literary than everyday speech. In modern casual language, its use may be somewhat more restrained, with speakers preferring stronger terms such as "kaunis," or, in more neutral contexts, "nätti." Nevertheless, sievä retains a recognizable sense of mild, tasteful attractiveness and can convey a gentle, traditional charm.

See also: Finnish adjectives, Kaunis, Nätti, Adjectival nuance.