selvä

From Proto-Finnic *selvä. Related to Ingrian selvä, Karelian selvä and Votic selve.

• IPA^(key): /ˈselʋæ/, [ˈs̠e̞lʋæ]
• Rhymes: -elʋæ
• Syllabification^(key): sel‧vä

selvä (comparative selvempi, superlative selvin)

1. clear (not dark or obscured; of more abstract concepts; see usage notes)
2. clear, plain, lucid (free of ambiguity or doubt; easily understood; of more abstract concepts; see usage notes)
3. clear, unmistakable, obvious, evident
4. clear, free (unobstructed, free of obstacles)
5. sober (not under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances)
6. clear, distinct (well-marked)
7. clear (able to perceive clearly)
8. clear (easily or distinctly heard or perceived)
9. clear (without diminution)

selvä and selkeä are partly synonymous, but there are some distinctive senses as well. A good article (in Finnish) can be found on this topic on Kotus's website. In summary, selkeä is used of things which have an observable structure, e.g. selkeä taivas (“clear sky”), whereas selvä is generally used in abstract contexts, e.g. tehdä selväksi (“to make clear”). There is a wide overlapping area, e.g. a thought may be both selkeä and selvä. Sometimes the difference is a matter of convention, e.g. reitti on selvä means that a route is clear of obstacles and reitti on selkeä means that the route is easy to grasp because it is straightforward or well marked.

• (sober): raitis
• (evident): ilmeinen, kiistaton
• selkeä (see usage notes)

selvä!

1. all right (used to affirm, indicate agreement, or consent).

   Selvä, mennäänpä sitten.

   All right, let's go then.

2. (radio) roger!

• sävel

From Proto-Finnic *selvä. Cognates include Finnish selvä.

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈselʋæ/, [ˈs̠e̞lʲʋ]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈselʋæ/, [ˈʃe̞lʋæ]
• Rhymes: -elʋ, -elʋæ
• Hyphenation: sel‧vä

selvä (comparative selvemp)

1. quick, fast
2. smart (quick to understand)

• Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 518