suurehko

Suurehko is a Finnish adjective meaning "somewhat large" or "fairly big." It indicates a moderate size and is common in everyday speech and informal writing. It sits between the basic terms suurin and melko suuri in terms of degree.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from the base adjective suuri (big) with the approximative suffix -hko/-hkö. This suffix in Finnish conveys an approximate or softened meaning, roughly equivalent to the English "-ish" or "-ish-sized." The construction commonly describes size without implying extremity.

Usage: Suurehko typically modifies a noun, as in lataamo: "suurehko talo" (a fairly large house) or "suurehko laatikko" (a fairly large box). It can also be used predicatively: "Talo on suurehko" (The house is fairly large). The term is more neutral and less formal than some alternatives like "melko suuri," but it remains widely understood in standard Finnish.

Examples: "Meillä on suurehko keittiö," meaning "We have a fairly large kitchen." "Hän otti suurehkon riskin," meaning "He took a fairly big/large risk." "Se on hieman suurehko auto," meaning "It’s somewhat large a car" (colloquial phrasing to indicate size).

Variants and related usage: The suffix -hko/-hkö forms numerous adjectives that express approximate size or degree, such as pyöreähkö (slightly round) or vanhahko (a bit old). These forms are a common feature of contemporary Finnish style, especially in spoken language.

See also: Finnish adjectives, suffix -hko/-hkö, size expression in Finnish.