väläys

Väläys is a Finnish noun meaning a brief, sudden occurrence. The term is most often used to denote a flash or glint of light, a fleeting idea or memory, or a short, evocative moment in a work of art or writing. In everyday language, väläys can describe the momentary appearance of insight or inspiration that is not fully developed, as well as a small, suggestive detail that hints at something larger.

Etymology and related forms: Väläys derives from the verb väläyttää, meaning to flash or appear briefly. The form and its derivatives are common in both colloquial speech and literary criticism, where it characterizes a transient spark rather than a sustained phenomenon. It is closely related to, but distinct from, the word välähdys, which more often refers to a physical flash of light or a quick visual glimpse.

Usage in context: In prose and poetry, väläys can function as a narrative device—a brief, vivid image or mood that punctuates a passage. In everyday speech, speakers might say that a new idea arrived with a väläys or that a remembered moment gave them a quick väläys of the past. The concept emphasizes immediacy and succession rather than depth.

See also: välähdys, inspiraatio, muistikuva.