viimekädessä

Viimekädessä is a Finnish adverb that translates to "ultimately," "in the end," or "eventually" in English. It is used to indicate the final outcome or consequence of a situation, often after a series of events or considerations.

The word is formed from the superlative form of the adjective "viimeinen" (last) and the adverbial suffix "-kädessä" (in hand). This etymology suggests a sense of something being the last thing to be dealt with or the final decision.

Viimekädessä is commonly used in contexts where decisions are made, plans are evaluated, or the final result of a process is discussed. For example, one might say "Viimekädessä päätös on sinun" meaning "Ultimately, the decision is yours." It can also be used to describe a long-term consequence, such as "Viimekädessä ilmastonmuutos vaikuttaa meihin kaikkiin" which translates to "Ultimately, climate change will affect us all."

The adverb helps to summarize or draw a conclusion, highlighting the most important or definitive aspect of a matter. It conveys a sense of finality and often implies that other factors have been considered and are now secondary to the ultimate outcome.