vähäinen

Vähäinen is a Finnish adjective that denotes smallness in amount, size, degree, or significance. It describes quantities or qualities that are not large or substantial, and it can refer to tangible objects as well as abstract concepts. In use, vähäinen can convey nuance beyond simple size, often implying that something is limited relative to expectations, needs, or comparisons. In English translations it is commonly rendered as small, minor, or negligible depending on context.

Usage and nuance

Vähäinen is a common word in everyday Finnish and in formal writing. It typically precedes the noun it modifies, as in vähäinen määrä (a small amount) or vähäiset resurssit (limited resources). It can also function predicatively, as in Määrä on vähäinen. The term is often chosen when the emphasis is on insufficiency or marginal importance rather than mere physical size, contrasting with more neutral terms like pieni (small) or vähäinen in contexts where the degree or impact is under discussion. In statistics or policy language it may describe limited effects, small-scale samples, or scarce funding without implying total insignificance.

Etymology and related terms

Vähäinen originates from the root vähä-, meaning “little” or “scant,” combined with the suffix -inen to form an adjective. It belongs to the common class of Finnish -inen adjectives that modify nouns and decline for number and case. Related terms include pienempi (comparative form of pieni), and more emphatic or stronger terms such as mitätön or merkityksetön, which can convey stronger notions of insignificance.

See also

pieni, pikkuinen, mitätön, merkityksetön, vähäisesti

Translations

In English, vähäinen can be translated as small, minor, or negligible, depending on context.