valesti

Valesti is a Finnish adverb meaning “in the wrong way” or “incorrectly.” It is used to describe actions performed improperly or statements that are misunderstood or misinterpreted. The word is formed with the common adverbial suffix -sti and typically follows the verb it modifies.

Usage examples: Hän teki sen valesti. (He did it the wrong way / incorrectly.) Hän ymmärsi asian valesti. (He understood the matter incorrectly.) Tulkinta voi olla valesti, jos konteksti ei ole selvä. (An interpretation may be wrong if the context is not clear.)

Valesti is often contrasted with oikein, meaning “correctly.” It emphasizes manner or interpretation rather than a factual error in a claim. In some contexts it can carry a sense of a avoidable mistake or a misreading of information, rather than a moral fault.

Related terms include väärin or virheellisesti, which can express “wrong” in broader or more factual senses. Valesti tends to focus on the manner of execution or understanding, rather than the truth value of a proposition.

In Finnish language usage, valesti is common in education, journalism, and everyday speech to flag incorrect procedures, assumptions, or readings. It can modify verbs directly or appear in clause-final positions to indicate that the preceding action or interpretation was not correct.