aivan

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Finnish

Etymology

An instructive singular (compare ihan) of a root aiva-, from Proto-Finnic *aiva-, probably borrowed from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Háywas, or alternatively from Proto-Germanic *aiwaz (long time). Cognate with Votic aiva (always) and Estonian aiva (always).

Pronunciation

Adverb

aivan

  1. very, rather, quite
    Synonyms: ihan, kovin, todella, tosi, sangen
    aivan lähellävery close
  2. exactly, precisely, just
    Synonyms: ihan, juuri
    aivan oikeinexactly right
    aivan kuin minäjust like me
  3. completely, totally
    Synonyms: ihan, täysin, kokonaan
    aivan väärincompletely wrong
    aivan mahdotontatotally impossible
    aivan liian montaway too many

Usage notes

  • (very): According to a traditional Standard Finnish rule, aivan is practically never used with 'large' adjectives or adverbs, e.g.
    ×aivan suuri (large), ×aivan pitkä (long), ×aivan raskas (heavy), ×aivan kaukana (far), ×aivan paljon (much, a lot),
    • ...but 'small' adjectives or adverbs are fine, e.g.
      aivan pieni (small), aivan lyhyt (short), aivan kevyt (light(weight)), aivan lähellä (close, nearby), aivan vähän (a little).
    • This tendency is quite strong in modern Finnish, but the rule is nevertheless sometimes broken in Colloquial Finnish. Also, in older texts, both can be found.
    • Furthermore, in negative sentences, both can be found, and the meaning will naturally be "not that", "not very".
    • One way to describe this tendency, as done by the Nykysuomen sanakirja, is that aivan intensifies a feature that "can be taken to an absolute limit". The property of being "small" or "short" can be taken to the absolute limit (that is, zero), but being "large" or "long" cannot.

Interjection

aivan

  1. indeed!

Usage notes

Depending on the tone, this interjection can also convey sudden realization, such as when the stress is on the latter syllable (or both syllables) and when the word is pronounced somewhat slowly.

Further reading

Anagrams

Ingrian

Etymology 1

Ultimately from an Indo-European language. Cognates include Finnish aivan and Estonian aiva.

Pronunciation

Adverb

aivan

  1. completely
Synonyms
Derived terms

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

Noun

aivan

  1. genitive singular of aiva

References

  • Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 7