välttävä

Välttävä is a Finnish adjective meaning sufficient, adequate, or passable. It describes something that meets the minimum requirements but does not stand out in quality or performance. The term is neutral to slightly critical and is used in everyday language, journalism, and education to moderate evaluations or descriptions.

In educational contexts, välttävä has been used as a grade or descriptor indicating a basic passing level without distinction. Depending on the grading system, it may correspond to a lower or middle position and is often translated as 'sufficient' or 'passable' in English. In contemporary reporting, teachers may favor more explicit terms or numeric grades, but the word remains common in historical records, feedback, and informal assessments.

It is also used to describe the quality of work, products, or services: for example, 'välttävä suoritus' or 'välttävä laatu' implies acceptable but not high quality. The word can appear in formal writing and dictionaries to distinguish passable quality from excellent or poor.

Etymology and usage: Välttävä is a native Finnish word. Its exact historical development is not typically taught in language instruction, but it remains a standard part of Finnish vocabulary for evaluating performance and quality. Related terms include tyydyttävä (satisfactory), kelvollinen (adequate/eligible), and hyväksytty (approved/passed).