yksikäs

Yksikäs is a Finnish word that translates to "only one" or "singular" in English. It is often used to emphasize that there is just a single item, person, or instance of something. For example, one might say "yksikäs tähti taivaalla" meaning "only one star in the sky." The word can also be used in a more abstract sense to denote uniqueness or singularity.

The word is formed from two parts: "yksi" meaning "one" and "käs" which is a shortened form of "kasa" meaning "heap" or "bunch." While the literal translation might seem counterintuitive, the combination has evolved to mean a single, isolated entity. It can imply a sense of loneliness or specialness depending on the context.

In everyday Finnish conversation, "yksikäs" is a common term. It's not a technical or formal word but rather part of the general vocabulary. Its usage is straightforward, aiming to clearly convey the idea of a sole existence. For instance, if someone is looking for a specific item and finds only one, they might exclaim "Ah, yksikäs!" to indicate their discovery of the last remaining piece.