ystävällinen

Ystävällinen is a Finnish adjective meaning friendly or kind. It describes people, behavior, and environments that are warm, courteous, and supportive. The term can refer to a person’s demeanor as well as to services and spaces that invite comfort.

Etymology and form: Ystävällinen is derived from the noun ystävä (friend) with the suffix -llinen, which forms adjectives that express the quality of something. The word is standard neutral Finnish and widely used across registers.

Grammar and usage: Like other Finnish adjectives, ystävällinen agrees with the noun in number and case, for example: hän on ystävällinen ihminen (he/she is a friendly person). The comparative form is ystävällisempi and the superlative is ystävällisin. The adverbial form is ystävällisesti, meaning “in a friendly manner.”

Contexts and nuance: Ystävällinen is broadly positive and commonly used in everyday language. It can denote genuine warmth or polite civility depending on context. It contrasts with epäystävällinen (unfriendly) or tyly (rude). Common collocations include ystävällinen käytös (friendly behavior), ystävällinen hymy (friendly smile), and ystävällinen palvelu (friendly service).

See also: Finnish adjectives; Finnish grammar; Finnish lexicon related to social behavior.