vähäisikin

Vähäisikin is a Finnish intensifying adverb used to stress that even the smallest amount, degree, or extent is involved or relevant. It conveys a sense of emphasis on a minimal quantity, often in contrast to expectations or to underline a point in discussion.

The word is built from the adjective vähäinen meaning “meager, scant” and the enclitic particle -kin, which adds emphasis similar to “even.” The form may appear as a locally variant or in older texts; in standard modern Finnish, the closely related form vähäisinkin is more commonly used to express the same idea. Vähäisikin can therefore be encountered in a formal or literary register, and less frequently in everyday speech.

Usage and nuance: Vähäisikin functions to intensify statements about smallness or insufficiency. It is typically used in contexts that involve negation, limitation, or counter-claims, such as when one wants to deny that something matters even to the smallest degree or to stress that not even a trace exists. Because of its emphatic tone, it tends to appear in written Finnish, essays, or rhetoric rather than casual conversation.

Variants and regional notes: While the standard variant is often cited as vähäisinkin, vowels and consonants may shift in regional speech, producing forms that resemble vähäisikin. The core idea remains the same: the word serves to highlight an extremity of smallness with an emphasis on “even” or “at all.”

See also: kin, vähäinen, intensifiers in Finnish.