silminnähden

Silminnähden is a Finnish adverb meaning clearly or evidently, indicating that something is perceivable by the eye or obvious upon inspection. It is used to emphasize direct perceptibility or an observable fact, often attaching to adjectives, verbs, or whole clauses.

The word is a compound built from silmä (eye) and nähdä (to see). The sense is that something can be seen with the eye, or readily perceived. Historically, the form has appeared both as two words (silmin nähden) and as a closed form (silminnähden); in contemporary Finnish the one-word version is standard.

Usage and tone: silminnähden is more common in written Finnish, including journalism and literary prose, where the writer wants to underline obviousness or a conspicuous change. It can strengthen statements such as comparisons or outcomes that are readily verifiable by anyone. Examples include: “Tulokset ovat silminnähden paremmat,” “Kustannukset ovat silminnähden kasvaneet,” and “Se on silminnähden selvää.” The expression often carries a sense of objectivity, though it can be subjective depending on context.

Related terms include ilmeinen (obvious) and selvästi (clearly). While silminnähden shares a similar meaning with these words, it specifically foregrounds perception by sight and an impression that requires little or no interpretation.