sopiva

Sopiva is a Finnish adjective meaning suitable or appropriate, describing something that fits a particular purpose, requirement, or situation. It is commonly used to indicate that a person, plan, object, time, or condition is fitting for a given context. Examples in everyday language include phrases like sopiva ratkaisu (a suitable solution), sopiva aika (a convenient time), or sopivat ehdot (the appropriate terms).

In Finnish, sopiva agrees with the noun in number and case, so its forms change to match the grammar of the sentence. It can appear in predicative position, as in Se on sopiva (It is suitable), and it can modify nouns in various cases, such as sopivan vaihtoehdon (of a suitable option) or sopivassa paikassa (in a suitable place), depending on the context.

Sopiva has comparative and superlative forms, typically expressed as sopivampi for “more suitable” and sopivimmat or sopivin for “the most suitable,” though the exact endings follow regular Finnish adjective comparison patterns. The word is closely related to the verb sopia, meaning “to be suitable or to agree,” and to the noun sopivuus, meaning “suitability” or “fitness.”

Usage of sopiva spans everyday conversation, planning, design, and policy discourse, where emphasis is placed on whether a choice or measure fulfills defined criteria. It is a neutral term that does not convey moral judgment beyond practicality or fit.

See also: sopia, sopivuus, suitability.