tunnettu

Tunnettu is a Finnish adjective meaning “well known” or “famous.” It describes someone or something that is widely known or recognized by many people. The term is neutral and can be used of people, places, brands, works of art, events, or ideas.

Etymology and morphology: Tunnettu is formed from the verb tuntea (“to know”) with the passive participle suffix -ttu, producing the meaning “known.” It belongs to a class of adjectives derived from verbs. The comparative and superlative forms are tunnetumpi (“more well-known”) and tunnetuin (“most well-known”). The adverb tunnettusti is used to indicate that something is widely known, as in tunnettusti.

Usage: It can be used attributively before a noun, for example, “tunnettu kirjailija” (a well-known writer), or predicatively with a linking verb: “Hän on tunnettu kirjailija.” For emphasis on international recognition, phrases such as “kansainvälisesti tunnettu” or “maailmanlaajuisesti tunnettu” are common.

Related terms: tuntematon means unknown, and kuuluisa is another common synonym meaning famous. Tunnettuus, while less frequent, can appear in some contexts to refer to the quality or state of being well known.