specifisesti

Specifisesti is an adverb found in some languages, most commonly in Finnish, where it appears as a loanword or calque meaning “in a specific way” or “specifically.” It is typically used in academic or technical writing to introduce a precise aspect, focus, or narrowed scope.

Etymology and form: In Finnish, many adverbs are formed with the suffix -isesti. Specifisesti is generally understood as a loanword from the English word “specifically,” or as a direct calque of the same term. The root is related to Latin specificus through the English word specific, before the Finnish derivational suffix is applied. The word illustrates how languages adapt English technical vocabulary through productive suffixes.

Usage: The word functions similarly to the English “specifically,” signaling emphasis on a particular aspect or restriction. Example (Finnish): Specifisesti tässä tutkimuksessa keskitytään kolmeen tekijään. (Translation: Specifically in this study, three factors are the focus.) In translations, specifisesti is often kept as a loanword or marked as a borrow­ing.

Purists and variation: Some language purists view it as an unnecessary anglicism, while others accept it as a practical term in cross-linguistic or technical discourse. Its usage tends to be more common in modern or internationalized texts, and less so in formal-style native Finnish writing where native equivalents like erityisesti or tarkemmin might be preferred.

See also: specifically, specific, erityisesti.