tarkka

Tarkka is a Finnish adjective meaning careful, precise, or accurate. It is used to describe measurements, observations, methods, or people who pay close attention to detail. In everyday language, tarkka conveys that something is done with thoroughness or exactness, for example in phrases such as tarkka mittaus (a precise measurement) or tarkka havainto (a careful observation).

Etymology: The word derives from the Finnish root tarkka meaning careful; it is linked to the noun tarkkuus “accuracy” and related forms in other Finnic languages. The precise Proto-Finnic origin is not entirely settled.

Usage and inflection: Tarkka is a normal Finnish adjective and agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case. In singular: nominative tarkka, genitive tarkan, partitive tarkkaa, inessive tarkassa, illative tarkkaan. In plural: nominative tarkat, genitive tarkkojen, partitive tarkkoja, inessive tarkoissa, illative tarkkoihin. Other cases follow standard patterns for adjectives ending with -ka.

Related terms: The noun tarkkuus denotes accuracy or precision, and tarkkaileva describes someone observant or meticulous. The word is primarily a descriptive term and is not commonly used as a proper noun.