sileänä

Sileänä is a Finnish word formed from the adjective sileä, meaning smooth, flat, or even. The form sileänä is the essive case used with a copula like olla to describe a state or condition, roughly translating to “in a smooth state” or “as smooth.” It is commonly used to characterize surfaces, textures, and finishes, indicating that something is free from roughness or irregularities at the moment described.

In ordinary use, sileänä describes physical qualities such as surfaces and materials. For example, a table or a pane of glass can be described as sileänä to indicate that the surface is even and without roughness. The expression is factual and neutral, often appearing in everyday description, product specifications, and maintenance notes. The form can also appear in descriptive or literary contexts when a smooth, unobtrusive surface or appearance is being emphasized.

Sileänä has related forms in Finnish grammar and morphology. The basic adjective is sileä. The corresponding adverb is sileästi, meaning “smoothly” in manner. The translative form sileäksi means “to become smooth” or “to turn into a smooth [state].” The essive form sileänä is one of several predicative cases used with olla to express temporary states or conditions. While sileänä is primarily used for physical smoothness, it may appear in figurative language to convey ease or lack of roughness in a situation.

See also: sileä, tasainen, adverbs of manner.