sykäyksittäin

Sykäyksittäin is a Finnish adverb that translates to "intermittently," "in spurts," "in pulses," or "rhythmically." It describes an action or phenomenon that occurs in a series of distinct, often brief, episodes or bursts, rather than continuously. The term suggests a pattern of on-again, off-again activity.

For example, a faulty lightbulb might flicker sykäyksittäin, meaning it lights up and goes dark repeatedly. A person experiencing pain might feel it sykäyksittäin, indicating that the pain comes and goes in waves. In a more technical context, a signal might be transmitted sykäyksittäin, implying that data is sent in discrete packets or bursts.

The word's etymology is related to "syke," which means "pulse" or "beat," further emphasizing the rhythmic or pulsating nature of the action it describes. It can be used to describe both physical and abstract occurrences. The regularity or irregularity of these bursts can vary, but the core meaning remains that of non-continuous, episodic action.