Alphabet

1 Letters
The Finnish alphabet has 29
letters: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n,o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, å, ä j
a ö. The letters š and ž can occur only in loan words.

2 Inflection
Letters are declined in 15 cases like other nominals, too. A letter or a letter
combination that is pronounced letter by letter are separated from a case ending
and a possible plural marker by a colon, e.g. A:sta B:hen 'from A to B', LP:iden ja
CD:iden myynti 'sale of LPs and CDs', EU:ssa 'in the EU', WC:hen 'into the WC',
WC:istä 'from the WCs', and tv:ssä 'in the TV'. If the vowel in the case ending is a
part of a long vowel, both vowels are written after the colon. This applies to the
partitive and illative of some letters, e.g. n:ää 'n' (partitive) and s:ään 'into s'
(illative).
Vowels

1 Vowel Phonems
There are 8 vowel phonemes in Finnish: [a], [e], [i], [o], [u], [y], [æ], and [ø].
Back vowels are a [a], o [o], and u [u], middle vowels are e [e] and i[i], and
front vowels are ä [æ], ö [ø], and y [y]. The guideline for pronunciation follows
the system of the International Phonetic Alphabet(IPA).

Back vowels Middle vowels Front vowels

a e ä

o i ö

u y

2 Duration
The vowels have two durations: short and long. A short vowel is written with one
letter and a long one with two letters.
Consonants

1 Consonant Phonemes
There are 13 consonant phonemes in Finnish: [d], [h], [j], [k], [l], [m], [n], [ŋ],
[p], [r], [s], [t], and [v]. Phonemes [b], [f], [g], [ʃ], [z], and [ʒ] may occur only
in loan words.

2 Duration
Consonants have two durations: short and long. A short consonant is written with
one letter and a long consonant usually with two similar letters. In native Finnish
words, only the phonemes [h], [j], [k], [l], [m], [n], [ŋ], [p], [r], [s], [t], and [v]
can occur as long consonants. The [j] phoneme is pronounced long only after a
diphthong in which the second component is i, e.g. leija [leijja] 'kite' and tuija
[tuijja] 'arborvitae (Thuja)'. Accordingly, the [v] phoneme is pronounced long
after a diphthong in which the second component is u, e.g. vauva [vauvva] 'baby'
and sauva [sauvva] 'stick'. The long consonant is written with a single letter in
both cases. The [ŋ] phoneme has no letter of its own. The long [ŋ] phoneme may
occur only between two vowels and it is marked with ng then, e.g. kengät
[keŋŋæt] 'shoes' and kuningas [kuniŋŋas] 'king'. The short [ŋ] phoneme is
marked with n in front of k, e.g. kenkä [keŋkæ] 'shoe' and sanka [saŋka] 'handle',
and with g in front of n, e.g. signaali [siŋna:li] 'signal' and magneetti [maŋne:tti]
'magnet', and with ng elsewhere, e.g. englanti [eŋlanti] 'English' and kongressi
[koŋressi] 'congress'.
Consonant gradation
Strong grade Weak grade

KK/PP/TT K/P/T
kukka kukan flower of the flower
pappi papin pastor of the pastor
matto maton carpet of the carpet

K/P/T -(V)/V/D
käki käen cuckoo of the cuckoo
kyky kyvyn ability of the ability
käpy kävyn cone of the cone
koti kodin home of the home

LK/LP/LT L(J)/LV/LL
jalka jalan foot of the foot
jälki jäljen track of the track
halpa halvan cheap of the cheap (thing)
silta sillan bridge of the brigde

RK/RP/RT R(J)/RV/RR
märkä märän wet of the wet (thing)
kurki kurjen crane of the crane
arpa arvan lot of the lot
kerta kerran time of the time

NK/MP/NT NG/MM/NN
kenkä kengän shoe of the shoe
kampa kamman comb of the comb
ranta rannan shore of the shore

HK/(HP)/HT H/-/HD
vihko vihon notebook of the notebook

lahti lahden bay of the bay

GG/BB/(DD) G/B/-
diggaan digata I like to like
dubbaan dubata I dub to dub
Vowel change I > E
Nominative Genetive Partitive English

alpi alven alpea loosestrife (Lysimachia)

appi apen appea father-in-law
arki arjen arkea workday
arpi arven arpea scar
hanhi hanhen hanhea goose
hanki hangen hankea snow
happi hapen happea oxygen
hapsi hapsen hasta / hapsea slight hair
hauki hauen haukea pike
heisi heiden heittä cranberry bush (Viburnum)
helmi helmen helmeä pearl
henki hengen henkeä breath
hetki hetken hetkeä moment
hiili hiilen hiiltä coal
hiiri hiiren hiirtä mouse
hiisi hiiden hiittä holy grove
hiki hien hikeä sweat
hirsi hirren hirttä timber
hirvi hirven hirveä elk
huoli huolen huolta trouble
huuli huulen huulta lip
impi immen impeä virgin
joki joen jokea river
jouhi jouhen jouhea horsehair
jousi jousen jousta bow
juoni juonen juonta vein
juuri juuren juurta root
jälki jäljen jälkeä track
jälsi jällen jälttä cambium
järki järjen järkeä mind
järvi järven järveä lake
Jääski Jääsken Jääskeä a town in Karelia
kaali kaalen¹ kaalta¹ cabbage
kaari kaaren kaarta curve
kaihi kaihen kaihea cataract, glaucoma
kaikki kaiken kaikkea all
kaksi kahden kahta two
kampi kammen kampea crank
kanki kangen kankea pry bar
kansi kannen kantta cover
karhi karhen karhea harrow
kaski kasken kaskea burn-clearing
kausi kauden kautta era
kieli kielen kieltä language, tongue
kiiski kiisken kiiskeä ruffe
kilpi kilven kilpeä shield
kirsi kirren kirttä frost
kivi kiven kiveä stone
koipi koiven koipea leg
korpi korven korpea woods
korsi korren kortta straw
koski kosken koskea rapids
kuori kuoren kuorta peel
kurki kurjen kurkea crane
kusi kusen kusta piss
kuusi kuuden kuutta six
kuusi kuusen kuusta spruce (Picea)
kylki kyljen kylkeä side
Kymi Kymen Kymeä a river in Finland
kynsi kynnen kynttä nail
käki käen käkeä cockoo
kärki kärjen kärkeä point
käsi käden kättä hand
köysi köyden köyttä rope
lahti lahden lahtea bay
laki laen lakea top (of a hill)
lampi lammen lampea pond
lapsi lapsen lasta child
lehti lehden lehteä leaf
lempi lemmen lempeä love
leski lesken leskeä widow(er)
liemi liemen lientä broth
liesi lieden liettä stove
lohi lohen lohta salmon
loimi loimen loimea warp, blanket
Louhi Louhen Louhea a figure in Kalevala
lovi loven lovea nick
lumi lumen lunta snow
luomi luomen luomea eyelid
länki längen länkeä
länsi lännen länttä west
meri meren merta see
mesi meden mettä honey
mieli mielen mieltä mind
moni monen monta many
mäki mäen mäkeä hill
niemi niemen nientä / niemeä cape
niini niinen niintä bast
nimi nimen nimeä name
noki noen nokea soot
nummi nummen nummea moor
nuoli nuolen nuolta arrow
nuori nuoren nuorta young
nurmi nurmen nurmea grass
närhi närhen närheä jay
onki ongen onkea rod and line
onni onnen onnea luck
orsi orren ortta perch
ovi oven ovea door
paasi paaden paatta rock bench
parsi parren partta stall
parvi parven parvea flock
peitsi peitsen peistä / peitseä lance
pieli pielen pieltä edge
pieni pienen pientä small
piki pien pikeä pitch
pilvi pilven pilveä cloud
polvi polven polvea knee
ponsi ponnen pontta anther
poski posken poskea cheek
povi poven povea bust
puoli puolen puolta half
pursi purren purtta boat, yacht
putki putken putkea pipe
pälvi pälven pälveä small snowless area (in the
spring)
reki reen rekeä sleigh
reisi reiden reittä thigh
retki retken retkeä trip
riihi riihen riihtä drying barn
ripsi ripsen ripseä eyelash
rupi ruven rupea scab
ruuhi ruuhen ruuhta punt
saari saaren saarta island
saarni saarnen saarnea ash
saksi saksen saksea scissors
salmi salmen salmea strait
sampi sammen sampea sturgeon
sappi sapen sappea gall bladder
sarvi sarven sarvea horn
savi saven savea clay
seimi seimen seimeä manger
sieni sienen sientä mushroom
siili siilen¹ siiltä¹ hedgehog
siipi siiven siipeä wing
sini sinen sineä blue
solki soljen solkea buckle
soppi sopen soppea place, corner
sormi sormen sormea finger
suksi suksen suksea / susta ski
suoli suolen suolta intestine
Suomi Suomen Suomea Finland
suomi suomen suomea Finnish
suoni suonen suonta blood vessel
susi suden sutta wolf
suuri suuren suurta big
suvi suven suvea summer
syli sylen syltä fathom
sylki syljen sylkeä saliva
sysi syden syttä coal
sänki sängen sänkeä stubble
särki särjen särkeä roach
sääri säären säärtä shin
sääski sääsken sääskeä mosquito
taimi taimen taimea seedling
talvi talven talvea winter
tammi tammen tammea oak
teeri teeren teertä black grouse
telki teljen telkeä bolt
tiili tiilen tiiltä brick
tilhi tilhen tilheä waxwing
toimi toimen tointa / toimea job, post
tonki tongen tonkea pliers
torvi torven torvea horn
tosi toden totta true
tuki tuen tukea support
tuli tulen tulta fire
tuohi tuohen tuohta birch bark
tuomi tuomen tuomea / black cherry
tuonta
tuoni tuonen tuonta death
tuppi tupen tuppea sheath
tuuli tuulen tuulta wind
typpi typen typpeä nitrogen
tyvi tyven tyveä base
tyyni tyynen tyyntä still
tähti tähden tähteä star
täysi täyden täyttä full
uksi uksen usta door
uni unen unta sleep
uuhi uuhen uuhta female sheep
uusi uuden uutta new
varsi varren vartta stem
veitsi veitsen veistä / knife
veitseä¹
veli veljen veljeä brother
veri veren verta blood
vesi veden vettä water
vieri vieren viertä side
viiksi viiksen viikseä mustache
viini viinen viintä quiver
viisi viiden viittä five
virpi virven virpeä twig
virsi virren virttä hymn
vuohi vuohen vuohta goat
Vuoksi Vuoksen Vuoksea a river in Finland
vuori vuoren vuorta mountain
vuosi vuoden vuotta year
vyyhti vyyhden vyyhteä skein
väki väen väkeä people
yksi yhden yhtä one
ääni äänen ääntä voice
ääri äären äärtä edge

¹ The inflectional form does not follow the paradigm shown in Nykysuomen
sanakirja, but it is widely used.
Personal Pronouns

1 Inflection
The personal pronouns are shown in the following table.

Person Singular Plural

1st minä me

2nd sinä te

3rd hän he

The personal pronouns are declined in all cases except for the comitative and
instructive. There are no grammatical genders in Finnish and that is why there is
only one pronoun for the third person singular (he and she) and also for the third
person plural (they).
Demonstrative Pronouns

1 Inflection
The demonstrative pronouns are shown in the following table.

Singular Plural

tämä nämä

tuo nuo

se ne

The demonstrative are declined in all cases. Some adverbial cases are also
possible.

2 Usage
Demonstrative pronouns can stand alone or be used with a noun. When used with
a noun, the demonstrative pronoun is between a preposition and attributes.

preposition + demonstrative pronoun + attributes + noun

demonstrative pronoun + attributes + noun + postposition

2.1 Tämä and nämä

The pronouns tämä 'this' and nämä 'these' are used to point out objects, people,
or actions that are close to or within the reach of the speaker.

Tämä on hauskaa! This is funny!

(The speaker is participating in an action that he or she likes.)

Tämä kirja on This book is new.

uusi. (The speaker is holding the book in his or her hand or it is close to him or
her.)

Tämä and nämä are declined according to the word they determine.

tässä suuressa kirjassa in this big book

näissä suurissa kirjoissa in these big books

ennen tätä kaunista päivää before this nice day

näiden kauniiden päivien jälkeen after these nice days

2.2 Tuo and nuo

The pronouns tuo 'that' and nuo 'those' are used to point out objects, people, or
actions that are far or not within the reach of the speaker, but they can be
detected by the speaker.

Tuo on hauskaa! That is funny!

(The speaker is watching an action that he or she likes.)

Tuo kirja on uusi. That book is new.

(The speaker is seeing the book on the table, but he or she cannot reach it.)

Tuo and nuo are declined according to the word they determine.

tuohon vanhaan taloon into that old house

noista uusista autoista out of those new cars

tuon synkän metsän keskellä in the middle of that dark forest

ennen noita kiireisiä ihmisiä before those hurry people

2.3 Se and ne

The pronouns se 'it, the, such' and ne 'they, the, such' are used to point out
objects, people, or actions that are unpresent or within the reach of the listener
only.

Se on hauskaa! It is funny!
(The speaker has heard of an action that he or she likes.)

Se kirja on uusi. The/That book is new.

(The speaker is seeing the listener hold the book in his or her hand or the
book is not present in the room where the speaker is.)

Se and ne are declined according to the word they determine.

sille vanhalle pöydälle onto the/that old table

niiden pienten lasten of the/those little children

siihen viimeiseen päivään asti until the/that last day

kesken niiden pitkien puheluiden in the middle of the/those long telephone calls

Reflexive Pronouns
1 Inflection
The reflexive pronouns consist of the word itse and a possessive suffix. They are
shown in the following table.

Person Singular Plural

1st itse + ni itse + mme

2dn itse + si itse + nne

3rd itse + nsä itse + nsä

The reflexive pronouns are declined in all cases except for the abessive,
comitative, and instructive.

Indefinite Pronouns
 muu other
jompikumpi either one
kaikki all
kumpikin both
kumpikaan neither
kumpainenkaan neither
kukin each
kukaan anybody
mikin each
mikään anything
eräs one
joku somebody
jokin something
moni many
mones [no translation]
molemmat both
usea many
jokainen everybody
toinen other
muutama some
sama same
yksi one

Interrogative Pronouns
1 Inflection
There are four interrogative pronouns in Finnish. They are shown in the following
table.

kuka who

kumpainen which, which one

kumpi which, which one

mikä what

The interrogative pronouns are declined in all cases. Some adverbial cases are
also possible.

Reciprocal Pronouns
toinen toisemme each other (we)
toinen toisenne each other (you)
toinen toisensa each other (they)

Relative Pronouns
joka which
mikä what

Numbers
1 Cardinal Numbers
The cardinal numbers are the following:

In Numbers In Letters

0 nolla

1 yksi

2 kaksi

3 kolme

4 neljä

5 viisi

6 kuusi

7 seitsemän

8 kahdeksan

9 yhdeksän

10 kymmenen

11 yksitoista

12 kaksitoista

13 kolmetoista

14 neljätoista
15 viisitoista

16 kuusitoista

17 seitsemäntoista

18 kahdeksantoista

19 yhdeksäntoista

20 kaksikymmentä

21 kaksikymmentäyksi

22 kaksikymmentäkaksi

23 kaksikymmentäkolme

24 kaksikymmentäneljä

25 kaksikymmentäviisi

26 kaksikymmentäkuusi

27 kaksikymmentäseitsemän

28 kaksikymmentäkahdeksan

29 kaksikymmentäyhdeksän

30 kolmekymmentä
40 neljäkymmentä

50 viisikymmentä

60 kuusikymmentä

70 seitsemänkymmentä

80 kahdeksankymmentä

90 yhdeksänkymmentä

100 sata

101 satayksi

1000 tuhat

1001 tuhatyksi

The cardinal numbers are declined in cases. Every part is declined in numbers that
consist of several parts except for the -toista element, which is the partitive case
of the word toinen 'the second' and occurs in the numbers from 11 to 19.

2 Ordinal Numbers
The ordinal numbers are formed by adding -s to the genitive stem of cardinal
numbers. There are exceptions for the numbers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and they must
be learnt separately. An ordinal number includes a period.

In Numbers In Letters

0. nollas

1. ensimmäinen

2. toinen

3. kolmas

4. neljäs

5. viides

6. kuudes

7. seitsemäs

8. kahdeksas

9. yhdeksäs

10. kymmenes

11. yhdestoista

12. kahdestoista

13. kolmastoista

14. neljästoista
15. viidestoista

16. kuudestoista

17. seitsemästoista

18. kahdeksastoista

19. yhdeksästoista

20. kahdeskymmenes

21. kahdeskymmenesensimmäinen

22. kahdeskymmenestoinen

23. kahdeskymmeneskolmas

24. kahdeskymmenesneljäs

25. kahdeskymmenesviides

26. kahdeskymmeneskuudes

27. kahdeskymmenesseitsemäs

28. kahdeskymmeneskahdeksas

29. kahdeskymmenesyhdeksäs

30. kolmaskymmenes

40. neljäskymmenes
50. viideskymmenes

60. kuudeskymmenes

70. seitsemäskymmenes

80. kahdeksaskymmenes

90. yhdeksäskymmenes

100. sadas

101. sadasensimmäinen

1000. tuhannes

1001. tuhannesensimmäinen

The ordinal numbers are declined in cases in the same way as the cardinal
numbers.
Moods
1 Introduction
A mood expresses the manner in which the action or state conveyed by the
predicate is conceived by the speaker. There are four moods in the Finnish
language: indicative, imperative, conditional, and potentional. They differ from
each other by a mood marker which is located before the personal suffix and
after the possible passive marker. The following table shows the structure of a
finite form of a verb. A finite form consists of at least the stem and a personal
suffix.

stem + passive marker + tense or mood marker + personal suffix +

clitic particles

2 Indicative
The indicative expresses that the action is real. It has no mood marker, but it
conjugates in all the tenses unlike the other moods.

2.1 Present Active

The present active indicative is formed by adding a personal suffix to the present
stem.

present stem + personal suffix

Personal suffixes of the present active indicative are shown in the following table.
The third person singular has no personal suffix, if the present stem ends in a
diphthong; otherwise the personal suffix is a vowel lengthening. The third person
plural has two variants for the personal suffix due to the vowel harmony.

Person Singular Plural

1st person -n -mme

2nd person -t -tte

3rd person -, vowel lengthening -vat/-vät

2.2 Present Passive

The present passive indicative is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-
täand the personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening + n) to the passive stem.
passive stem + passive marker + personal suffix

Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive
stem are shown in the following table.

-ta/-tä + Vn -> -taan/-tään

-ta/-tä + Vn -> -daan/-dään
-ta/-tä + Vn -> -laan/-lään
-ta/-tä + Vn -> -naan/-nään
-ta/-tä + Vn -> -raan/-rään

2.3 Past Active

The past active indicative is formed by adding the tense marker and the personal
suffix to the present stem. The past tense marker is -i and it merges with the
present stem.

present stem + tense marker + personal suffix or

past stem + personal suffix

Personal suffixes of the past active indicative are shown in the following table.
The third person singular has not personal suffix and the third person plural has
two variants for the personal suffix due to the vowel harmony.

Person Singular Plural

1st person -i + n -i + mme

2nd person -i + t -i + tte

3rd person -i -i + vat/vät

2.4 Past Passive

The past passive indicative is formed by adding the passive marker, the tense
marker, and the personal suffix to the passive stem.

passive stem + passive marker + tense marker + personal suffix

Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive
stem are shown in the following table.

-ta/-tä + i + Vn -> -tiin

-tta/-ttä + i + Vn -> -ttiin
3 Imperative
The imperative expresses that the action is forced or desired. Its marker is arelic
consonant, -ko/-kö, or -kaa/-kää. There is no form for the first person
singular. The imperative conjugates in the present and perfect tense.

3.1 Present Active

The second person singular is formed by adding the mood marker to the present
stem. This form has no personal suffix.

present stem + mood marker

The third person singular and all the plural forms are formed by adding the mood
marker and the personal suffix to the infinitive stem.

infinitive stem + mood marker + personal suffix

Mood markers and personal suffixes that are used when forming the imperative
are shown in the following table.

Person Singular Plural

1st person -kaa + mme

2nd person relic consonant -kaa + (tte)

3rd person -ko + on / -kö + ön -ko + ot / -kö + öt

3.2 Present Passive

The present passive imperative is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-täor
-tta/-ttä, the mood marker -ko/-kö, and the personal suffix -Vn (vowel
lengthening + n) to the passive stem.

passive stem + passive marker + mood marker + personal suffix

Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive
stem are shown in the following table.

-ta/-tä + ko/kö + Vn -> -takoon/-täköön

-tta/-ttä + ko/kö + Vn -> -ttakoon/-ttäköön

4 Conditional
The conditional expresses that the action is conditional. Its marker is -isi and it
conjugates in the present and perfect tense.

4.1 Present Active

The present active conditional is formed by adding a personal suffix to the

conditional stem.

conditional stem + personal suffix

The mood marker and personal suffixes that are used when forming the
conditional are shown in the following table. The third person singular has no
personal suffix.

Person Singular Plural

1st person -isi + n -isi + mme

2nd person -isi + t -isi + tte

3rd person -isi -isi + vat/vät

4.2 Present Passive

The present passive conditional is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-täor
-tta/-ttä, the mood marker -isi, and the personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening
+ n) to the passive stem.

passive stem + passive marker + mood marker + personal suffix

Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive
stem are shown in the following table.

-ta/-tä + isi + Vn -> -taisiin/-täisiin

-tta/-ttä + isi + Vn -> -ttaisiin/-ttäisiin

5 Potential
The potential expresses that the action is possible. Its marker is -ne and it
conjugates in the present and perfect tense.

5.1 Present Active

The present active potential is formed by adding the mood marker and a personal
suffix to the participle stem.

participle stem + mood marker + personal suffix

The mood marker and personal suffixes that are used when forming the potential
are shown in the following table.

Person Singular Plural

1st person -ne + n -ne + mme

2nd person -ne + t -ne + tte

3rd person -ne + e -ne + vat/vät

5.2 Present Passive

The present passive potential is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-täor
-tta/-ttä, the mood marker -ne, and personal suffix -Vn (vowel lengthening + n)
 to the passive stem.

passive stem + passive marker + mood marker + personal suffix

Different combinations of markers and suffixes that are added to the passive
stem are shown in the following table.

-ta/-tä + ne + Vn -> -taneen/-täneen

-tta/-ttä + ne + Vn -> -ttaneen/-ttäneen

Alistuskonjunktiot
Subordinating conjunctions Unterordnende Konjunktionen
että
jotta
koska
kun
jos
vaikka
kuin
kunnes
jahka
ellen
jollen
joskin
kuten
tokko

niin että
ennen kuin
niin kuin
ikään kuin
 jos kohta

Rinnastuskonjunktiot
Coordinating conjunctions Nebenordnende Konjunktionen
ja
ynnä
sekä
sekä - että
-kä
eli
tai
tahi
taikka
joko - tai
vai
mutta
vaan
sillä
paitsi
näet
nimittäin

Adverb stems
ala- under
ylä- upper
esi- front
taka- behind
lähi- near
kauko- far
ulko- out
sisä- in
keski- middle
vieri side
etä- far
ohi- at, over
muka- with
ympäri- around
vasta- against
poiki- away
tykö- by
 luo- by
liki- near
seka- among

Cases

1 Introduction
A case is an inflection of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, numerals, infinitives,
participles, and adverbs. Many cases are similar in function to English
prepositions. In Finnish, there are 15 cases which can be divided into five groups,
each of which consists of three cases. Basic cases include nominative, genitive,
and accusative, general local cases include partitive, essive, and
translative, interior local cases include inessive, elative, and illative, exterior local
cases include adessive, ablative, and allative, and means cases include abessive,
comitative, and instructive. In addition, there are also a lot of adverbial
cases whose usage is limited to a small number of words. Therefore, these forms
are usually regarded as adverbs.

2 Inflectional Stems
Case suffixes cannot usually be added directly to the nominative stem, but a word
stem is affected by several changes, the most important of which are consonant
gradation and vowel change i ~ e. With the aid of inflectional stems, the formation
of cases is much easier, because cases requiring the same inflectional stem can be
learnt simultaneously, and the only varying thing is just the case ending.

3 Formation of Cases
A good knowledge of inflectional stems is a major requirement for forming Finnish
cases.

Nominative Stem

1 Introduction
The nominative stem is the basic form of Finnish nominals, infinitives and
participles.

2 Formation
The nominative stem is easy to form - it is the nominative itself.

3 Usage
The nominative stem is used to form the nominative singular, the short
form of the accusative singular, and sometimes the genitive plural as well.
It is also used to form other inflectional stems.

The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the
 nominative stem.

Case Word Translation

Nominative sg jalka the foot
Accusative sg (short) jalka the foot
Genitive pl jalkain of the feet

Genitive Stem

1 Introduction
The genitive stem is a very important stem of Finnish nominals. Most cases are
formed by adding endings directly to it. This applies to the singular form of the
genitive, accusative (long form), translative, inessive, elative, adessive,
ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive, and the plural form of the
nominative and accusative. A good knowledge of consonant
gradation andvowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation
The formation of the genitive stem is very complicated. The following rules
show, how the genitive stem is formed from the nominative stem. In the
examples, the first form is the nominative stem or the nominative singular and
the second one is the genitive stem with the genitive ending -n.

2.1 Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that do not undergo vowel change i ~ e

This group includes all the words that end in a, o, u, y, ä, and ö. This group
also includes a small number words that end in e. Most words that end
in eactually end in a relic consonant, and therefore they decline like words
ending in a normal consonant (see chapter 2.2 a below). The only group of
words that requires memorizing consists of words ending in i, because they
can undergo the vowel change i ~ e. This group includes the words that do not
undergo the change.

The genitive stem of these words is similar to the nominative stem, except for
that the consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words.

Nominative Genitive Translation

koira koira-n dog

nalle nalle-n teddy bear

kiivi kiivi-n kiwi fruit

talo talo-n house

koulu koulu-n school

syy syy-n reason

kylä kylä-n village

yö yö-n night

If a word contains a consonant or a consonant cluster, which is affected by

the consonant gradation, the genitive stem takes the weak grade.

Nominative Genitive Translation

silta silla-n bridge

vihko viho-n notebook

b) Words that undergo vowel change i ~ e

If a word undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, the genitive stem is formed by

replacing the i by e.

Nominative Genitive Translation

kieli kiele-n language

A word may undergo both the vowel change i ~ e and the consonant
gradation. In this case, the genitive stem takes the weak grade as well.

Nominative Genitive Translation

koipi koive-n leg

särki särje-n roach

Note especially words that end in -si and undergo the vowel change i ~ e.
Because of a ancient change si ~ ti, these words still decline as if there were
at instead of the s. As t is a phoneme that is affected by the consonant
gradation, the genitive stem, in addition, takes the weak grade. The following
table shows all the possible inflectional types.

Nominative Genitive Translation

vesi vede-n water

kansi kanne-n lid

jälsi jälle-n cambium

virsi virre-n hymn

Exceptions!
The genitive stem of jousi, kusi, and kuusi is formed just by replacing i by e.

Nominative Genitive Translation

jousi jouse-n bow

kusi kuse-n piss

kuusi kuuse-n spruce

Exception!
The word veli requires an additional j in the genitive stem.

Nominative Genitive Translation

veli velje-n brother

Note!
The genitive stem of yksi and kaksi is formed by replacing ksi by hde.

Nominative Genitive Translation

yksi yhde-n one

kaksi kahde-n two

c) Comparative forms

The genitive stem of comparative forms is formed by replacing the

comparative ending -mpi by mma. The change from mp to mm is caused by
theconsonant gradation.

Nominative Genitive Translation

suurempi suuremma-n bigger

isompi isomma-n bigger

kauniimpi kauniimma-n nicer

d) New loan words

The consonant gradation is not applied to some new loan words.

Nominative Genitive Translation

varis varikse-n crow

hius hiukse-n hair

tulos tulokse-n result

kynnys kynnykse-n treshold

väärennös väärennökse-n forgery

Type II

If a word has been derived from a noun or an adjective, and it ends in -us/-
ys, in front of which there is a vowel, the genitive stem is formed by replacing
the s by de.

Nominative Genitive Translation

osuus osuude-n share, part

kauneus kauneude-n beauty

rakkaus rakkaude-n love

teollisuus teollisuude-n industry

hyvyys hyvyyde-n goodness

Type III

If a word is a number or a pronoun, which refers to a number, the genitive

stem is formed by replacing the s by nne.

Nominative Genitive Translation

kolmas kolmanne-n the third

the fourth
neljäs neljänne-n

tuhannes tuhannenne-n the thousandth

mones monenne-n
Type IV

The genitive stem of other words is formed by omitting the s and doubling the
last vowel. These words often end in -as (about 8 exceptions), -äs (about 2
exceptions), -es (about 11 exceptions), or -is (about 9 exceptions). Only one
word of this type ends in -os. The consonant gradation is applied to
appropriate words, and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade.

This type especially includes words that end in -ias (one exception), -kas,
-las (two exceptions), -mas, -nas (three exceptions), -oas, -ras, -sas, -tas,
-uas, and -vas. See the list of words that belong to this type. Anyway, the list
does not include words ending in -ias and -kas.

Nominative Genitive Translation

karvas karvaa-n bitter

tehdas tehtaa-n factory

varvas varpaa-n toe

kiuas kiukaa-n sauna heater

kirves kirvee-n ax

tiivis tiivii-n compact

uros uroo-n male

räystäs räystää-n eaves

Exceptions!
The word paras is irregular and it requires an additional h in the genitive
stem. The word mies also declines irregularly, because the s changes to he in
the genitive stem.

Nominative Genitive Translation

paras parhaa-n the best

mies miehe-n man

c) Words that end in n

If a word ends in n, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the n by me.

Theconsonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the genitive
stem takes the strong grade. Words that end in -en, -nen, and -ton/-tön, and
superlative forms ending in -in, decline in a different way and they will be
discussed separately below.

Nominative Genitive Translation

avain avaime-n key

sydän sydäme-n heart

sadin satime-n trap

hapan happame-n sour

otin ottime-n handle

Exceptions!
There are two words, in which the n is replaced by ma/mä. The
word hapancan also be declined regularly (see above).

Nominative Genitive Translation

hapan happama-n sour

lämmin lämpimä-n warm

If a word ends in -en, the genitive stem is formed by adding e to the

nominative stem. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words,
and then the genitive stem takes the strong grade.

Nominative Genitive Translation

ien ikene-n gum

joutsen joutsene-n swan

jäsen jäsene-n member, part

höyhen höyhene-n feather

hiven hivene-n small amount

tyven tyvene-n calm

If a word ends in -nen, the genitive stem is formed by replacing
the nen byse.

Nominative Genitive Translation

hevonen hevose-n horse

ihminen ihmise-n person

puinen puise-n wooden

If a word ends in -ton/-tön, the genitive stem is formed by replacing

theton/tön by ttoma/ttömä. Note that the change from t to tt is caused by
the consonant gradation.

Nominative Genitive Translation

mahdoton mahdottoma-nimpossible

työtön työttömä-n unemployed

If a word is a superlative form and thus ends in -in, the genitive stem is
formed by replacing the n by mma/mmä. This group also includes the
word vasen'left'.

Nominative Genitive Translation

suurin suurimma-n the biggest

kaunein kauneimma-n the nicest

märin märimmä-n the wettest

köyhin köyhimmä-n the poorest

vasen vasemma-n left

The genitive stem of the numbers from 7 to 10 and from 17 to 19 is formed by

omitting the n.

Nominative Genitive Translation

seitsemän seitsemä-n seven

kahdeksan kahdeksa-n eight

yhdeksän yhdeksä-n nine

kymmenen kymmenen-n ten

seitsemäntoista seitsemä-n- seventeen

toista

kahdeksantoistakahdeksa-n- eighteen
toista

yhdeksäntoista yhdeksä-n- nineteen

toista

d) Words that end in l

If a word ends in l, the genitive stem is formed by adding e to the nominative

stem. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the
genitive stem takes the strong grade. This group includes about ten words.

Nominative Genitive Translation

askel askele-n step

kannel kantele-n kantele

kyynel kyynele-n tear

sävel sävele-n note, melody

sammal sammale-n moss

ommel ompele-n stitch

taival taipale-n trip

nivel nivele-n joint

vemmel vempele-n

petkel petkele-n chopper

e) Words that end in r

If a word ends in r, the genitive stem is formed by adding e to the nominative

stem. The consonant gradation is applied to appropriate words, and then the
genitive stem takes the strong grade.

Nominative Genitive Translation

tatar tattare-n knotweed

(Polygonum)

tytär tyttäre-n daughter

sisar sisare-n sister

f) Words that end in t

If a word ends in -at/-ät, the genitive stem is formed by removing the t and
doubling the last vowel. This group includes only one word.

Nominative Genitive Translation

kevät kevää-n spring

If a word is a number, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the t by nne.

This group includes only one word.

Nominative Genitive Translation

tuhat tuhanne-n thousand

If a word ends in -ut/-yt, the genitive stem is formed by replacing the t by e,

except for participles. This group includes about eleven words.

Nominative Genitive Translation

ohut ohue-n thin

olut olue-n beer

lyhyt lyhye-n short

neitsyt neitsye-n virgin

kätkyt kätkye-n

airut airue-n harbinger

kevyt kevye-n light

ehyt ehye-n whole

tiehyt tiehye-n duct

pehmyt pehmye-n soft

If a word is the active voice of a past participle and thus ends in -ut/-yt, the
genitive stem is formed by replacing the ut/yt by ee.

Nominative Genitive Translation

juossut juossee-n run

laulanut laulanee-n sung

syönyt syönee-n eaten

vienyt vienee-n taken

Note!
The word ainut has no genitive stem of its own, but instead you use that of
the word ainoa 'only'.

Nominative Genitive Translation

ainut ainoa-n only

g) Loan words

The genitive stem of new loan words, which end in a consonant, is formed
simply by adding a vowel i to the nominative stem. Foreign proper nouns
belong to this group as well. This rule also applies to words that end in the
consonants l, n, r, s, and t.
Nominative Genitive Translation

rock rocki-n rock music

radar radari-n radar

Internet Interneti-n Internet

Linux Linuxi-n Linux

Windows Windowsi-n Windows

New York New Yorki-n New York

3 Usage
The genitive stem is used to form the singular form of the genitive, accusative
(long form), translative, inessive, elative, adessive, ablative, allative, abessive,
and instructive, and also the plural form of the nominative and accusative. It is
also used to form the partitive, essive and plural stem.

The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the genitive
stem.

Case Word Translation

Nominative sg jalka the foot

Accusative sg (long) jalan the foot

Genitive sg jalan of the foot

Translative sg jalaksi becoming the foot

Inessive sg jalassa in the foot

Elative sg jalasta out of the foot

Adessive sg jalalla on the foot

Ablative sg jalalta from the foot

Allative sg jalalle onto the foot

Abessive sg jalatta without the foot

 Instructive sg jalan by foot

Nominative pl jalat the feet

Accusative pl jalat the feet

Fourth Inflection Type of Words Ending in -s

This list includes all the words that end in -s and decline according to the
fourth inflection type. Words ending in -ias and -kas are not included,
because there are a lot of such words and all of them decline similarly.
(Words that end in -äs will be added later.)

Nominative Genitive Partitive English

ahdas ahtaan ahdasta narrow, tight
allas altaan allasta basin
ahnas ahnaan ahnasta greedy
altis alttiin altista exposed
armas armaan armasta dear
aulis auliin aulista helpful
autuas autuaan autuasta blessed
hammas hampaan hammasta tooth
harras hartaan harrasta devout
hauras hauraan haurasta fragile
hidas hitaan hidasta slow
hirvas hirvaan hirvasta
ies ikeen iestä yoke
kangas kankaan kangasta some
kallis kalliin kallista expensive
kalvas kalvaan kalvasta pale
karsas karsaan karsasta unwilling
karvas karvaan karvasta bitter
katras katraan katrasta herd
kaunis kauniin kaunista beautiful
kauris kauriin kaurista mountain goat
keidas keitaan keidasta oasis
kernas kernaan kernasta eager
kinnas kintaan kinnasta mitten
kiivas kiivaan kiivasta intense
kirves kirveen kirvestä ax
kitsas kitsaan kitsasta stingy
kiuas kiukaan kiuasta sauna heater
koiras koiraan koirasta male
kokelas kokelaan kokelasta candidate
kuhilas kuhilaan kuhilasta shock, stook
kuningas kuninkaan kuningasta king
kunnas kunnaan kunnasta
kuulas kuulaan kuulasta clear
lammas lampaan lammasta sheep
lipas lippaan lipasta box
lounas lounaan lounasta lunch; southwest
lunnas lunnaan lunnasta ransom
mallas maltaan mallasta malt
marras martaan marrasta dead
mies miehen miestä man
naaras naaraan naarasta female
nauris nauriin naurista turnip
opas oppaan opasta guide
oas okaan oasta
oinas oinaan oinasta wether
olas olaan olasta
oppilas oppilaan oppilasta pupil
oras oraan orasta new crop
parras partaan parrasta edge
paljas paljaan paljasta bare
paras parhaan parasta the best
patsas patsaan patsasta statue
pensas pensaan pensasta bush
piiras piiraan piirasta
porras portaan porrasta step
porsas porsaan porsasta pig
potilas potilaan potilasta patient
pudas putaan pudasta
puhdas puhtaan puhdasta clean
ratas rattaan ratasta cogwheel
raavas raavaan raavasta big
rahvas rahvaan rahvasta people
raitis raittiin raitista fresh
raihnas raihnaan raihnasta decrepit
rastas rastaan rastasta
ratsas ratsaan ratsasta
rengas renkaan rengasta ring, tire
reipas reippaan reipasta snappy
rietas riettaan rietasta indecent
ruhtinas ruhtinaan ruhtinasta prince
ruis rukiin ruista rye
runsas runsaan runsasta rich
ruumis ruumiin ruumista body
saapas saappaan saapasta boot
saalis saaliin saalista prey
sairas sairaan sairasta sick
sees sekeen seestä clear
sotilas sotilaan sotilasta soldier
tahdas tahtaan tahdasta paste
taivas taivaan taivasta sky
tehdas tehtaan tehdasta factory
teuras teuraan teurasta slaughtered (animal)
tiivis tiiviin tiivistä tight
toipilas toipilaan toipilasta convalescent
tupas tuppaan tupasta
tuores tuoreen tuoresta fresh
turilas turilaan turilasta
tursas tursaan tursasta
tyyris tyyriin tyyristä expensive
uros uroon urosta male
uuras uuraan uurasta busy
valpas valppaan valpasta attentive
varas varkaan varasta thief
varras vartaan varrasta spit
varvas varpaan varvasta toe
valas valaan valasta whale
valmis valmiin valmista ready
vauras vauraan vaurasta rich
vehmas vehmaan vehmasta lush
vilpas vilppaan vilpasta
vieras vieraan vierasta guest
viisas viisaan viisasta wise
vitsas vitsaan vitsasta twig
vuolas vuolaan vuolasta fast-flowing
äes äkeen äestä harrow
Partitive Stem

1 Introduction
The partitive stem is an important stem of nominals, infinitives and participles along with the
genitive stem. The main difference between these stems lies inconsonant gradation. The
partitive stem takes the strong grade, when the genitive stem takes the weak one, and vice
versa. The partitive stem is used to form the partitive singular and the genitive plural. Anyway,
the genitive plural cannot be formed from the partitive stem of any word, but there are certain
restrictions. The partitive stem is also used to form the essive stem. A good knowledge of
the consonant gradation and also vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation
The formation of the partitive stem is very complicated. The following rules show, how the
partitive stem is formed from the nominative and sometimes also the genitive stem. In the
examples, the partitive ending -a/-ä/-ta/-tä has been separated from the partitive stem by a
hyphen.
2.1 Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that do not undergo vowel change i ~ e

If a word ends in a vowel and it does not undergo the vowel change i ~ e, the partitive stem is
similar to the nominative stem. This rule also applies to words which are affected by
the consonant gradation.

Nominative Partitive Translation

koira koira-a dog

nalle nalle-a teddy bear

kiivi kiivi-ä kiwi fruit

talo talo-a house

koulu koulu-a school

syy syy-tä reason

kylä kylä-ä village

yö yö-tä night

silta silta-a bridge

vihko vihko-a notebook

b) Words that undergo vowel change i ~ e

If a word undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, there are two ways of forming the partitive stem.

If a word ends in -hi, -li, -ni, or -ri, in front of which there is a vowel, the partitive stem is
formed by removing the i.

Nominative Partitive Translation

jouhi jouh-ta horsehair

kieli kiel-tä language

pieni pien-tä small

saari saar-ta island

There are three exceptions to the rule. Note that the word veli also requires an additional j.

Nominative Partitive Translation

Louhi Louhe-a Louhi

sini sine-ä the blue

veli velje-ä brother

Note also that the following words require a back-vowel partitive ending that is against vowel
harmony rules.

Nominative Partitive Translation

meri mer-ta sea

veri ver-ta blood

If a word ends in -si, in front of which there is a vowel, or in -lsi, -nsi, or -rsi, the partitive
stem is formed by replacing the si by t.

Nominative Partitive Translation

vesi vet-tä water

kuusi kuut-ta six

kansi kant-ta lid

jälsi jält-tä

virsi virt-tä hymn

Exceptions!
The partitive stem of jousi, kusi, and kuusi is formed by omitting the i.

Nominative Partitive Translation

jousi jous-ta bow

kusi kus-ta piss

kuusi kuus-ta spruce

If a word ends in -ksi, the partitive stem is formed either by replacing it by hor s, or by
omitting the i. This group includes only four words.

Nominative Partitive Translation

yksi yh-tä one

kaksi kah-ta two

uksi us-ta door

suksi sukse-a or ski

sus-ta (old
form)

If a word ends in -psi or -tsi, the partitive stem is formed by replacing it by s. This group
includes only four words.

Nominative Partitive Translation

hapsi has-ta hair

lapsi las-ta child

peitsi peis-tä lance

veitsi veis-tä (veitse- knife

ä)

If a word ends in -mi, in front of which there is a vowel, the partitive stem is formed either by
replacing the i by e, or the mi by n.

Nominative Partitive Translation

lumi lun-ta snow

nimi nime-ä name

If a word does not belong to any of the groups mentioned above, the partitive stem is formed
by replacing i by e.
Nominative Partitive Translation

tammi tamme-a oak

saarni saarne-a ash

tähti tähte-ä star

kurki kurke-a crane

c) Comparative forms

The partitive stem of comparative forms is formed by replacing the comparative ending
-mpi by mpa.

Nominative Partitive Translation

suurempi suurempa-a bigger

isompi isompa-a bigger

kauniimpi kauniimpa-a nicer

2.2 Words that end in a consonant

There are only five consonants, l, n, r, s, and t, which a Finnish word can end in. Loan words
can end in any consonant.

a) Words that end in a relic consonant

If a word ends in a relic consonant, the partitive stem is formed by adding t to the nominative
stem. Actually, this t is the relic consonant which becomes visible now.

Nominative Partitive Translation

vene venet-tä boat

koe koet-ta test

laite laitet-ta device

b) Words that end in s

If a word ends in s, the partitive stem is formed with the aid of the genitive stem.

If the genitive stem ends in -kse, -he, or a long vowel, the partitive stem is similar to the
nominative stem.

Nominative Genitive Partitive Translation

varis varikse-n varis-ta crow

hius hiukse-n hius-ta hair

tulos tulokse-n tulos-ta result

kynnys kynnykse-n kynnys-tä treshold

väärennös väärennökse-n väärennös-tä forgery

karvas karvaa-n karvas-ta bitter

tehdas tehtaa-n tehdas-ta factory

varvas varpaa-n varvas-ta toe

kiuas kiukaa-n kiuas-ta sauna heater

kirves kirvee-n kirves-tä ax

tiivis tiivii-n tiivis-tä compact

uros uroo-n uros-ta male

räystäs räystää-n räystäs-tä eaves

paras parhaa-n paras-ta the best

mies miehe-n mies-tä man

If the genitive stem ends in -de or -nne, the partitive stem is formed from the nominative
stem by replacing the s by t.

Nominative Genitive Partitive Translation

osuus osuude-n osuut-ta share, part

kauneus kauneude-n kauneut-ta beauty

rakkaus rakkaude-n rakkaut-ta love

teollisuus teollisuude-n teollisuut-ta industry

hyvyys hyvyyde-n hyvyyt-tä goodness

kolmas kolmanne-n kolmat-ta the third

neljäs neljänne-n neljät-tä the fourth

tuhannes tuhannenne-n tuhannet-ta the thousandth

mones monenne-n monet-ta

c) Words that end in n

If a word ends in -nen, the partitive stem is formed by replacing the nen by s.

Nominative Partitive Translation

hevonen hevos-ta horse

ihminen ihmis-tä person

puinen puis-ta wooden

There are two ways of forming the partitive stem of superlative forms. This group also includes
the word vasen 'left'. The easiest way of forming the partitive stem is to use the stem similar
to the nominative stem.

Nominative Partitive Translation

suurin suurin-ta the biggest

isoin isoin-ta the biggest

vasen vasen-ta left

The partitive stem can also be formed by replacing the superlative ending -nby mpa.

Nominative Partitive Translation

suurin suurimpa-a the biggest

isoin isoimpa-a the biggest

vasen vasempa-a left

The partitive stem of other words, which end in -n, is similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative Partitive Translation

avain avain-ta key

sydän sydän-tä heart

sadin sadin-ta trap

hapan hapan-ta sour

otin otin-ta handle

lämmin lämmin-tä warm

ien ien-tä gum

joutsen joutsen-ta swan

mahdoton mahdoton-ta impossible

työtön työtön-tä unemployed

The partitive stem of the numbers 7 - 10 and 17 - 19 is formed by omitting then.

Nominative Partitive Translation

seitsemän seitsemä-ä seven

kahdeksan kahdeksa-a eight

yhdeksän yhdeksä-ä nine

kymmenen kymmenen-tä ten

seitsemäntoista seitsemä-ä- seventeen

toista
kahdeksantoistakahdeksa-a- eighteen
toista

yhdeksäntoista yhdeksä-ä- nineteen

toista

d) Words that end in l

If a word ends in l, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem. This group includes
about ten words.

Nominative Partitive Translation

askel askel-ta step

kannel kannel-ta kantele

kyynel kyynel-tä tear

sävel sävel-tä note, melody

sammal sammal-ta moss

ommel ommel-ta stitch

taival taival-ta trip

nivel nivel-tä joint

vemmel vemmel-tä

petkel petkel-tä sprudder,

stamper

e) Words that end in r

If a word ends in r, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative Partitive Translation

tatar tatar-ta knotweed

(Polygonum)

tytär tytär-tä daughter

sisar sisar-ta sister

f) Words that end in t

If a word ends in t, the partitive stem is similar to the nominative stem. This group also
includes past participle active tenses.

Nominative Partitive Translation

kevät kevät-tä spring

tuhat tuhat-ta thousand

ohut ohut-ta thin

olut olut-ta beer

lyhyt lyhyt-tä short

neitsyt neitsyt-tä virgin

kätkyt kätkyt-tä cradle

airut airut-ta harbinger

kevyt kevyt-tä light

ehyt ehyt-tä whole

tiehyt tiehyt-tä duct

pehmyt pehmyt-tä soft

ainut ainut-ta only

juossut juossut-ta run

laulanut laulanut-ta sung

syönyt syönyt-tä eaten

vienyt vienyt-tä taken

g) Loan words

The partitive stem of new loan words, which end in a consonant, is formed simply by adding a
vowel i to the nominative stem. Foreign proper nouns belong to this group as well. This rule
also applies to words that end in the consonants l, n, r, s, and t.

Nominative Partitive Translation

rock rocki-a rock music

radar radari-a radar

Internet Interneti-ä Internet

Linux Linuxi-a Linux

Windows Windowsi-a Windows

New York New Yorki-a New York

3 Usage
The partitive stem is used to form the partitive singular and sometimes the genitive plural as
well.

The partitive ending -a/-ä is added to a stem which ends in a single vowel, and the ending
-ta/-tä to a stem which ends in a long vowel, a diphthong, or a consonant.

The genitive plural ending -ten can be added only to a word whose partitive stem ends in a
consonant, excluding some exceptions. (For further information, see the page on forming the
genitive plural.)

The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the partitive stem.

Case Word Translation

Nominative sg kieli language

Partitive sg kieltä language

Genitive pl kielten of the

languages

Nominative sg jalka foot

Partitive sg jalkaa foot

Essive Stem

1 Introduction
The essive stem is a kind of a combination of the genitive and partitive stem. It
always ends in a vowel and takes the strong grade. A good knowledge
ofconsonant gradation and vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2 Formation
The essive stem is formed with the aid of the genitive and partitive stem. In the
inflection examples below, the genitive, partitive, and essive endings have been
separated from the stems by a hyphen.

2.1 Word ends in a vowel

a) Words that do not undergo vowel change i ~ e

If a word ends in a vowel and it does not undergo the vowel change i ~ e, the
essive stem is similar to the partitive and nominative stem. Thus, the stem
always takes the strong grade.

Nominative Partitive Essive Translation

koira koira-a koira-na dog

nalle nalle-a nalle-na teddy bear

kiivi kiivi-ä kiivi-nä kiwi fruit

talo talo-a talo-na house

koulu koulu-a koulu-na school

syy syy-tä syy-nä reason

kylä kylä-ä kylä-nä village

yö yö-tä yö-nä night

silta silta-a silta-na bridge

vihko vihko-a vihko-na notebook

b) Words that undergo vowel change i ~ e

If the partitive stem ends in a vowel, the essive stem is similar to the partitive
stem.

Nominative Partitive Essive Translation

tammi tamme-a tamme-na oak

saarni saarne-a saarne-na ash

tähti tähte-ä tähte-nä star

kurki kurke-a kurke-na crane

If the partitive stem ends in a consonant, the essive stem is formed by

addinge to the partitive stem.

Nominative Partitive Essive Translation

jouhi jouh-ta jouhe-na horsehair

kieli kiel-tä kiele-nä language

pieni pien-tä piene-nä small

saari saar-ta saare-na island

meri mer-ta mere-nä sea

veri ver-ta vere-nä blood

kuusi kuus-ta kuuse-na spruce

kuusi kuut-ta kuute-na six

kansi kant-ta kante-na lid

jälsi jält-tä jälte-nä cambium

virsi virt-tä virte-nä hymn

If a word ends in -mi, in front of which there is a vowel, the essive stem is
similar to the genitive stem.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

lumi lume-n lume-na snow

nimi nime-n nime-nä name

suomi suome-n suome-na Finnish

If a word ends in -ksi, the essive stem is similar to the genitive stem, except for
that the stem takes the strong grade. This group includes only four words.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

yksi yhde-n yhte-nä one

kaksi kahde-n kahte-na two

uksi ukse-n ukse-na door

suksi sukse-n sukse-na ski

If a word ends in -psi or -tsi, the essive stem is similar to the genitive stem.
This group includes only four words.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

hapsi hapse-n hapse-na hair

lapsi lapse-n lapse-na child

peitsi peitse-n peitse-nä lance

veitsi veitse-n veitse-nä knife

2.2 Word ends in a consonant

If a word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the essive stem is similar to

the genitive stem, excluding some exceptions discussed later. Thus, the stem
always takes the strong grade.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

vene venee-n venee-nä boat

karvas karvaa-n karvaa-na bitter

avain avaime-n avaime-na key

askel askele-n askele-na step

tytär tyttäre-n tyttäre-nä daughter

ohut ohue-n ohue-na thin

juossut juossee-n juossee-na run

laulanut laulanee-n laulanee-na sung

syönyt syönee-n syönee-nä eaten

vienyt vienee-n vienee-nä taken

The essive stem of comparative forms is formed by replacing the mma of the
genitive stem by mpa. Thus, the essive stem similar to the longer partitive stem.
This group also includes the word vasen 'left'.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

suurin suurimma-n suurimpa-na the biggest

isoin isoimma-n isoimpa-na the biggest

vasen vasemma-n vasempa-na left

If the nominative stem ends in -s and the genitive stem ends in -de, the essive
stem is formed from the nominative stem by replacing the s by te.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

osuus osuude-n osuute-na share, part

kauneus kauneude-n kauneute-na beauty

rakkaus rakkaude-n rakkaute-na love

teollisuus teollisuude-n teollisuute-na industry

hyvyys hyvyyde-n hyvyyte-nä goodness

If the nominative stem ends in -s or -t and the genitive stem ends in -nne, the
essive stem is formed from the nominative stem by replacing the s or t bynte.

Nominative Genitive Essive Translation

kolmas kolmanne-n kolmante-na the third

neljäs neljänne-n neljänte-nä the fourth

tuhannes tuhannenne-n tuhannente-na the thousandth

mones monenne-n monente-na

tuhat tuhanne-n tuhante-na thousand

3 Usage
The essive stem is used to form the essive sg and illative sg. It is also used to
form the nominative sg, genitive sg, accusative sg, nominative pl, and accusative
pl with a possessive suffix.

The following example shows, how case endings are attached to the essive stem.

Case Word Translation

Nominative kieli language

Essive kielenä as the language

Illative kieleen into the

language

In the following example, the possessive suffix -ni 'my' has been attached to the
essive stem. Because a possessiv suffix can only be added after a vowel, the
genitive and accusative singular ending -n, and the nominative and accusative
plural ending -t are removed. Thus, all the forms look similar.

Case Word Translation

Nominative sg kieleni my language

Accusative sg kieleni my language

Genitive sg kieleni of my
language

Nominative pl kieleni my languages

Accusative pl kieleni my languages

Plural Stem

1 Introduction
The plural stem is used to form the plural of the translative, inessive, elative,
adessive, ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive.

2 Formation
The plural stem is formed with the aid of the genitive stem. The plural stem
always includes a plural marker i. In the inflection examples below, the inessive
endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen. A good knowledge
ofconsonant gradation and vowel change i ~ e is of great use.

2.1 Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that end in a single a

If a word ends in a single a, there are two ways of forming the plural stem. If a
word includes two syllables, and there is o or u in the first one, the plural stem is
formed by replacing the a by the plural marker i.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

kova kova-ssa kovi-ssa hard

muna muna-ssa muni-ssa egg

loota looda-ssa loodi-ssa box

luuta luuda-ssa luudi-ssa broom

koira koira-ssa koiri-ssa dog

kuiva kuiva-ssa kuivi-ssa dry

routa rouda-ssa roudi-ssa frost

juoma juoma-ssa juomi-ssa drink

Otherwise, the last letter a of the genitive stem is replaced by o, and the plural
marker i is attached after it.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

kana kana-ssa kanoi-ssa hen

vaaka vaa'a-ssa vaaoi-ssa scale

helma helma-ssa helmoi-ssa hem

Veera Veera-ssa Veeroi-ssa Veera

ripa riva-ssa rivoi-ssa handle

hiiva hiiva-ssa hiivoi-ssa yeast

laiva laiva-ssa laivoi-ssa ship

kauppa kaupa-ssa kaupoi-ssa shop

keila keila-ssa keiloi-ssa bowling pin

leuka leua-ssa leuoi-ssa chin

hiekka hieka-ssa hiekoi-ssa sand

tiukka tiuka-ssa tiukoi-ssa tight

The previous rule is also applied to all words with three or more syllables no
matter which vowels there are in the preceding syllables.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

mansikka mansika-ssa mansikoi-ssa strawberry

mustikka mustika-ssa mustikoi-ssa blueberry

b) Words that end in a single ä

If a word ends in a single ä, the plural stem is formed by replacing ä by the plural
marker i.
Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

väärä väärä-ssä vääri-ssä wrong

räkä rää-ssä räi-ssä snot

c) Words that end in i

If a word ends in a single i, and it does not undergo the vowel change i ~ e, the
plural stem is formed by replacing the i by e and adding the plural marker iafter
it.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

kiivi kiivi-ssä kiivei-ssä kiwi fruit

kahvi kahvi-ssa kahvei-ssa coffee

kaappi kaapi-ssa kaapei-ssa cabinet

If a word undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, the plural stem is formed by

replacing the last letter e of the genitive stem by the plural marker i, except for
the words ending in -si.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

kieli kiele-ssä kieli-ssä language

koipi koive-ssa koivi-ssa leg

mäki mäe-ssä mäi-ssä hill

If a word ends in -si and undergoes the vowel change i ~ e, the plural stem is
similar to the nominative stem.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

vesi vede-ssä vesi-ssä water

kansi kanne-ssa kansi-ssa lid

jälsi jälle-ssä jälsi-ssä cambium

virsi virre-ssä virsi-ssä hymn

d) Words that end in a single e, o, u, y, or ö

If a word ends in a single e, o, u, y, or ö, the plural stem is formed by adding the

plural marker i to the genitive stem.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

nalle nalle-ssa nallei-ssa teddy bear

aatto aato-ssa aatoi-ssa eve

koulu koulu-ssa koului-ssa school

pyry pyry-ssä pyryi-ssä snowstorm

säilö säilö-ssä säilöi-ssä storage

e) Words that end in a long vowel

If a word ends in a long vowel, the plural stem is formed by replacing the last
letter of the genitive stem by the plural marker i.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

maa maa-ssa mai-ssa country

tee tee-ssä tei-ssä tea

ehtoo ehtoo-ssa ehtoi-ssa evening

puu puu-ssa pui-ssa tree

pyy pyy-ssä pyi-ssä hazelhen

pää pää-ssä päi-ssä head

f) Words that end in a diphthong that ends in i

If a word ends in a diphthong that ends in i, the plural stem is formed by
replacing the i by the plural marker i. Thus, the plural stem is similar to the
nominative and genitive stem.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

hai hai-ssa hai-ssa shark

koi koi-ssa koi-ssa moth

f) Word ends in ie, uo, or yö

If a one-syllable word ends in the diphthong ie, uo, or yö, the plural stem is
formed by omitting the first component of the diphthong, and adding the plural
marker i.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

tie tie-ssä tei-ssä road

suo suo-ssa soi-ssa marsh

työ työ-ssä töi-ssä work

f) Words that end in another diphthong or a vowel cluster

If a word ends in another diphthong or a vowel cluster that is not a diphthong, the
plural stem is formed by adding the plural marker i to the genitive stem. This rule
also applies to polysyllabic words that end in -ie, -uo, or -yö.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

neliö neliö-ssä neliöi-ssä square

kolmio kolmio-ssa kolmioi-ssa triangle

collie collie-ssa colliei-ssa collie

2.2 Words that end in a consonant

If a word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the plural stem is formed from
the genitive stem. In the inflection examples below, the inessive endings have
been separated from the stem by a hyphen.

a) Genitive stem ends in -de

If the genitive stem ends in -de, in front of which there is a vowel, the plural stem
is formed by replacing the de by ksi. This group includes words whose nominative
stem ends in -s.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

osuus osuude-ssa osuuksi-ssa share, part

kauneus kauneude-ssa kauneuksi-ssa beauty

rakkaus rakkaude-ssa rakkauksi-ssa love

teollisuus teollisuude-ssa teollisuuksi- industry

ssa

hyvyys hyvyyde-ssä hyvyyksi-ssä goodness

b) Genitive stem ends in -nne

If the genitive stem ends in -nne, the plural stem is formed by replacing
thenne by nsi. This group includes words whose nominative stem ends in -s or -t.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

kolmas kolmanne-ssa kolmansi-ssa the third

neljäs neljänne-ssä neljänsi-ssä the fourth

tuhannes tuhannenne- tuhannensi- the thousandth

ssa ssa
mones monenne-ssa monensi-ssa

tuhat tuhanne-ssa tuhansi-ssa thousand

c) Other words

The plural stem of other words, which end in a consonant or a relic consonant, is
formed by replacing the last letter of the genitive stem by the plural markeri. This
group does not include new loan words.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

vene venee-ssä venei-ssä boat

laite laittee-ssa laittei-ssa device

koe kokee-ssa kokei-ssa test

avain avaime-ssa avaimi-ssa key

sydän sydäme-ssa sydämi-ssä heart

tytär tyttäre-ssä tyttäri-ssä daughter

sisar sisare-ssa sisari-ssa sister

karvas karvaa-ssa karvai-ssa bitter

kaunis kaunii-ssa kaunii-ssa nice

paras parhaa-ssa parhai-ssa the best

kiuas kiukaa-ssa kiukai-ssa sauna heater

varis varikse-ssa variksi-ssa crow

ohut ohue-ssa ohui-ssa thin

neitsyt neitsye-ssä neitsyi-ssä virgin

sävel sävele-ssä säveli-ssä note, melody

askel askele-ssa askeli-ssa step

askel askelee-ssa askelei-ssa step

d) New loan words

The plural stem of new loan words that end in a consonant is formed by replacing
the last i of the genitive stem by e and adding the plural marker iafter it.

Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

stadion stadioni-ssa stadionei-ssa stadium

radar radari-ssa radarei-ssa radar

3 Usage
The plural stem is used to form the plural of the translative, inessive, elative,
adessive, ablative, allative, abessive, and instructive. The following example
shows, how case endings are attached to the plural stem.

Case Word Translation

Nominative jalka foot

Translative pl jaloiksi becoming the

feet

Inessive pl jaloissa in the feet

Elative pl jaloista out of the feet

Adessive pl jaloilla on the feet

Ablative pl jaloilta from the feet

Allative pl jaloille onto the feet

Abessive pl jaloitta without the feet

Instructive pl jaloin with the feet

Strong-grade Plural Stem

1 Introduction
The strong-grade plural stem is used to form the plural of cases that require a
strong-grade stem. These cases include the genitive, partitive, essive, illative,
and comitative. A good knowledge of consonant gradation and vowel change i
~ e is of great use.

2 Formation
The easiest way of forming the strong-grade plural stem is to form it from the
general plural stem, if a word ends in a vowel, and form if from the essive
stem, if a word ends in a consonant.

2.1 Words that end in a vowel

If a word ends in a vowel, the strong-grade plural stem is similar to the

general plural stem, except for that it always takes the strong grade such as
the nominative form. In the inflection examples below, the inessive and essive
endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen.

Nominative Inessive pl Essive pl Translation

kova kovi-ssa kovi-na hard

luuta luudi-ssa luuti-na broom

ripa rivoi-ssa ripoi-na handle

leuka leuoi-ssa leukoi-na chin

jalka jaloi-ssa jalkoi-na foot

mansikka mansikoi-ssa mansikkoi-na strawberry

väärä vääri-ssä vääri-nä wrong

kahvi kahvei-ssa kahvei-na coffee

mäki mäi-ssä mäki-nä hill

vesi vesi-ssä vesi-nä water

kyky kyvyi-ssä kykyi-nä ability

nalle nallei-ssa nallei-na teddy bear

aatto aatoi-ssa aattoi-na eve

maa mai-ssa mai-na country

ehtoo ehtoi-ssa ehtoi-na evening

suo soi-ssa soi-na marsh

neliö neliöi-ssä neliöi-nä square

2.2 Words that end in a consonant

If a word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the strong-grade plural

stem is formed from the essive stem. In the inflection examples below, the
essive endings have been separated from the stem by a hyphen.

a) Essive stem ends in -te

If the essive stem ends in -te, in front of which there is a vowel, the strong-
grade plural stem is formed by replacing the te by ksi. This group includes
only words whose nominative stem ends in -s.

Nominative Essive sg Essive pl Translation

osuus osuute-na osuuksi-na share, part

kauneus kauneute-na kauneuksi-na beauty

rakkaus rakkaute-na rakkauksi-na love

teollisuus teollisuute-na teollisuuksi-na industry

hyvyys hyvyyte-nä hyvyyksi-nä goodness

b) Essive stem ends in -nte

If the essive stem ends in -nte, the strong-grade plural stem is formed by
replacing the nte by nsi. This group includes only words whose nominative
stem ends in -s or -t.

Nominative Essive sg Essive pl Translation

kolmas kolmante-na kolmansi-na the third

neljäs neljänte-nä neljänsi-nä the fourth

tuhannes tuhannente-na tuhannensi-na the thousandth

mones monente-na monensi-na

tuhat tuhante-na tuhansi-na thousand

c) Other words

The strong-grade plural stem of other words is formed by replacing the last
letter of the essive stem by the plural marker i. Thus, the strong-grade plural
stem is similar to the general plural stem.

Nominative Essive sg Essive pl Translation

vene venee-nä venei-nä boat

laite laittee-na laittei-na device

koe kokee-na kokei-na test

avain avaime-na avaimi-na key

sydän sydäme-nä sydämi-nä heart

tytär tyttäre-nä tyttäri-nä daughter

sisar sisare-na sisari-na sister

karvas karvaa-na karvai-na bitter

paras parhaa-na parhai-na the best

kiuas kiukaa-na kiukai-na sauna heater

varis varikse-na variksi-na crow

ohut ohue-na ohui-na thin

neitsyt neitsye-nä neitsyi-nä virgin

d) New loan words

The strong-grade plural stem of new loan words that end in a consonant is
formed by replacing the last i of the essive stem by e and adding the plural
marker i after it.

Nominative Essive sg Essive pl Translation

stadion stadioni-na stadionei-na stadium

radar radari-na radarei-na radar

 3 Usage
The strong-grade plural stem is used to form the plural of the genitive,
partitive, essive, illative, and comitative. The following example shows, how
case endings are attached to the strong-grade plural stem. Note that the
plural marker i changes to j between vowels.

Case Word Translation

Nominative jalka foot

Genitive pl jalkojen of the feet

Partitive pl jalkoja (some) feet

Essive pl jalkoina as the feet

Illative pl jalkoihin into the feet

Comitative pl jalkoineni with my feet

Nominative

1 Case Endings
The nominative singular has no case ending. The case ending of the nominative
plural is -t.

2 Formation
The nominative singular is the basic form of a word, and it is the form that you
can expect to find in a dictionary. The nominative plural is formed by adding the
nominative plural ending to the genitive stem.

Nominative sg Nominative pl Translation

jalka jalat foot

varas varkaat thief

talo talot house

vene veneet boat

Accusative

1 Case Endings
The accusative singular has either no case ending or it is -n or -t. The case ending
of the accusative plural is -t.

2 Formation
The accusative singular has two different forms that are always similar to either
the nominative, which has no case ending, or the genitive, whose case ending is
-n which is added to the genitive stem. The accusative plural is formed by adding
the accusative plural ending -t to the genitive stem. Thus, the accusative plural is
similar to the nominative plural.Personal pronouns and the interrogative
pronoun kuka 'who' have only one accusative form which is formed with the
ending -t.

Nominative Accusative sg Accusative pl Translation

jalka jalka / jalan jalat foot

varas varas / varkaan varkaat thief

talo talo / talon talot house

vene vene / veneen veneet boat

Genitive

1 Case Endings
The genitive singular ending is -n and the genitive plural ending is -in, -en, -den,
-ten, or -tten. The endings -den and -tten are always alternative to each other.

2 Formation of Genitive Singular

The genitive singular is formed by adding the ending -n to the genitive stem.
Examples are shown in the tables in the following chapter.

3 Formation of Genitive Plural

The formation of the genitive plural is very complicated, because there are several
endings and the case can be formed from three different stems: the nominative
stem, partitive stem, and strong-grade plural stem.

3.1 Words that end in a vowel

a) Words that end in a, e, o, u, y, ä, or ö

If a word ends in a single a, e, o, u, y, ä, or ö, the genitive plural is formed by

adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural stem. The plural
markeri becomes j between vowels. This group does not include words ending in a
relic consonant (see chapter 3.2 a below).

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

koira koiran koirien dog

kana kanan kanojen hen

koulu koulun koulujen school

omena omenan omenojen apple

mansikka mansikan mansikkojen strawberry

b) Words that end in i

If a word ends in a single i, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending
-en to the nominative stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

kahvi kahvin kahvien coffee

enkeli enkelin enkelien angel

västäräkki västäräkin västäräkkien pied wagtail (Motacilla

alba)

This group also includes comparative forms.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

isompi isomman isompien bigger

kumpi kumman kumpien which one

This group also includes the words that undergo the vowel change i ~ e.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

kieli kielen kielien language

vesi veden vesien water

kansi kannen kansien lid

jälsi jällen jälsien cambium

virsi virren virsien hymn

meri meren merien sea

yksi yhden yksien one

veitsi veitsen veitsien knife

Note!
If the partitive stem ends in a consonant, the genitive plural can also be formed
by adding the ending -ten to it. These words always undergo thevowel change i ~
e. This rule cannot be applied to words yksi 'one' andkaksi 'two'.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

kieli kielen kielten language

vesi veden vetten water

kansi kannen kantten lid

jälsi jällen jältten cambium

virsi virren virtten hymn

meri meren merten sea

veitsi veitsen veisten knife

Note!
The genitive plural can also be formed by adding either the ending -den or
-tten to the strong-grade plural stem, if the word has at least three syllables, the
strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, and the syllable preceding the case
ending is stressed.
Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

enkeli enkelin enkeleiden angel

enkeleitten

c) Words that end in two vowels

If a word ends in two or more vowels, the genitive stem is formed by adding
either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

maa maan maiden country

maitten

yö yön öiden night

öitten

tie tien teiden way

teitten

neliö neliön neliöiden square

neliöitten

d) Special forms

The genitive plural of some words ending in a consonant can also be formed with
the aid of the ending -ten. These forms belong to elevated style.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

enkeli enkelin enkelten angel

jumala jumalan jumalten god

sankari sankarin sankarten hero

3.2 Words that end in a consonant

a) Words that end in a relic consonant

If a word ends in a relic consonant, the genitive plural is formed by adding either
the ending -den or -tten to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

vene veneen veneiden boat

veneitten

koe kokeen kokeiden test

kokeitten

laite laitteen laitteiden device

laitteitten

b) Words that end in l, n, or r

If a word ends in l, n, or r, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the

ending -ten to the partitive stem or -en to the strong-grade plural stem.

The ending -ten is added to the partitive stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

avain avaimen avainten key

ien ikenen ienten gum

hevonen hevosen hevosten horse

mahdoton mahdottoman mahdotonten impossible

suurin suurimman suurinten the biggest

seitsemän seitsemän seitsenten seven

askel askelen askelten step

tatar tattaren tatarten knotweed

(Polygonum)

The ending -en is added to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

avain avaimen avaimien key

ien ikenen ikenien gum

hevonen hevosen hevosien horse

mahdoton mahdottoman mahdottomien impossible

suurin suurimman suurimpien the biggest

seitsemän seitsemän seitsemien seven

askel askelen askelien step

tatar tattaren tattarien knotweed

(Polygonum)
c) Words that end in s

If a word ends in s, the genitive plural is formed with the aid of the ending -en,
-den, -tten or -ten.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

osuus osuuden osuuksien share, part

seitsemäs seitsemännen seitsemänsien the seventh

If the partitive stem ends in -s and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single
vowel, the genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade
plural stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

varis variksen variksien crow

If the partitive stem ends in -s and the strong-grade plural stem ends in two
vowels, the genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -denor -tten to
the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

vieras vieraan vieraiden guest

vieraitten

If the partitive stem ends in -s, the genitive plural can also be formed by adding
the ending -ten to the partitive stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

varis variksen varisten crow

vieras vieraan vierasten guest

d) Words that end in t

If a word ends in t and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, the
genitive plural is formed by adding either the ending -den or -tten to the strong-
grade plural stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

kevät kevään keväiden spring

keväitten

ohut ohuen ohuiden thin

ohuitten

juossut juosseen juosseiden run

juosseitten

syönyt syöneen syöneiden eaten

syöneitten

If a word ends in t and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel, the
genitive plural is formed by adding the ending -en to the strong-grade plural
stem. This group includes only one word.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

tuhat tuhannen tuhansien thousand

The genitive plural of this word can also be formed with the aid of the ending
-ten, but this form belongs to elevated style.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

tuhat tuhannen tuhanten thousand

e) Loan words

The genitive plural of loan words that end in a consonant is formed by adding the
ending -en to the partitive stem.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

radar radarin radarien radar

stadion stadionin stadionien stadium

Note!
The genitive plural can also be formed by adding either the ending -den or
-tten to the strong-grade plural stem, if the word has at least three syllables, the
strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong, and the syllable preceding the case
ending is stressed.

Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

radar radarin radareiden radar

radareitten

stadion stadionin stadioneiden stadium

stadioneitten
Partitive

1 Case Endings
The essive ending is -a/-ä or -ta/-tä both in the singular and in the plural.
Because of vowel harmony the endings have two variants.

2 Formation
The partitive singular is formed using the partitive stem and the partitive plural
using the strong-grade plural stem. If the partitive stem ends in a consonant or
two or more vowels, the partitive ending is -ta/-tä in the singular. Otherwise the
ending is -a/-ä.
If a word ends in two or more vowels, a consonant, or a relic consonant, and
the strong-grade plural stem ends in two vowels, the partitive ending is -ta/-tä in
the plural. Otherwise the ending is -a/-ä. The plural marker ibecomes j between
vowels. In the following tables, words have been devided into six groups according
to which partitive ending they take in the singular and the plural.

A word ends in two or more vowels.

Nominative Partitive sg Partitive pl Translation

maa maata maita country

yö yötä öitä night

tienoo tienoota tienoita region

neliö neliötä neliöitä square

A word ends in a single vowel, and the partitive stem ends in a consonant. All
these words undergo the vowel change i ~ e.

Nominative Partitive sg Partitive pl Translation

kieli kieltä kieliä language

vesi vettä vesiä water

kansi kantta kansia lid

jälsi jälttä jälsiä cambium

virsi virttä virsiä hymn

yksi yhtä yksiä one

veitsi veistä veitsiä knife

A word ends in a single vowel, and the partitive stem also ends in a vowel.

Nominative Partitive sg Partitive pl Translation

koira koiraa koiria dog

kana kanaa kanoja hen

kahvi kahvia kahveja coffee

koulu koulua kouluja school

tammi tammea tammia oak

kurki kurkea kurkia crane

suurempi suurempaa suurempia bigger

A word ends in a consonant, and the partitive stem ends in a vowel. This group
only includes some words ending in n and all loan words. The plural
marker i becomes j between vowels.

Nominative Partitive sg Partitive pl Translation

suurin suurimpaa suurimpia the biggest

vasen vasempaa vasempia left

seitsemän seitsemää seitsemiä seven

stadion stadionia stadioneja stadium

A word ends in a consonant, the partitive stem ends in a consonant, and the
strong-grade plural stem ends in a single vowel.

Nominative Partitive sg Partitive pl Translation

varis varista variksia crow

osuus osuutta osuuksia share, part

avain avainta avaimia key

ien ientä ikeniä gum

hevonen hevosta hevosia horse

mahdoton mahdotonta mahdottomia impossible

suurin suurinta suurimpia the biggest

askel askelta askelia step

tatar tatarta tattaria knotweed

(Polygonum)

tuhat tuhatta tuhansia thousand

A word ends in a consonant or a relic consonant, the partitive stem ends in a

consonant, and the strong-grade plural stem ends in a diphthong.

Nominative Partitive sg Partitive pl Translation

vene venettä veneitä boat

laite laitetta laitteita device

koe koetta kokeita test

karvas karvasta karvaita bitter

vieras vierasta vieraita guest

kevät kevättä keväitä spring

ohut ohutta ohuita thin

syönyt syönyttä syöneitä eaten

Essive

1 Case Endings
The essive ending is -na/-nä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of
vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation
The essive ending always requires a stem in the strong grade. Therefore, the
essive singular is formed using the essive stem and the essive plural using
the strong-grade plural stem. The essive ending is added directly to these stems.
Nominative Essive sg Essive pl Translation

jalka jalkana jalkoina foot

varas varkaana varkaina thief

talo talona taloina house

vene veneenä veneinä boat

Translative

1 Case Endings
The translative ending is -ksi in both the singular and the plural.

2 Formation
The translative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the translative
plural using the plural stem. The translative ending is added directly to these
stems.

Nominative Translative sg Translative pl Translation

jalka jalaksi jaloiksi foot

varas varkaaksi varkaiksi thief

talo taloksi taloiksi house

vene veneeksi veneiksi boat

Inessive

1 Case Endings
The inessive ending is -ssa/-ssä in both the singular and the plural. Because of
vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation
The inessive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the inessive plural
using the plural stem. The inessive ending is added directly to these stems.
Nominative Inessive sg Inessive pl Translation

jalka jalassa jaloissa foot

varas varkaassa varkaissa thief

talo talossa taloissa house

vene veneessä veneissä boat

Elative

1 Case Endings
The elative ending is -sta/-stä in both the singular and the plural. Because of
vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation
The elative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the elative plural using
the plural stem. The elative ending is added directly to these stems.
Nominative Elative sg Elative pl Translation

jalka jalasta jaloista foot

varas varkaasta varkaista thief

talo talosta taloista house

vene veneestä veneistä boat

Illative

1 Case Endings
The illative singular ending is -Vn, -hVn, or -seen in which the V indicates the
final vowel in the essive stem. The illative plural ending is -in, -hin, or -siin.

2 Formation
The illative always requires a stem in the strong grade. Therefore, the illative
singular is formed using the essive stem and the illative plural using the strong-
grade plural stem. For the illative singular, there are three different case endings.
The ending -Vn is used, when the stem ends in a single vowel or a vowel cluster
that does not form a diphthong. The ending -hVn is used, when the essive stem
ends in a diphthong or a long vowel and the nominative stem ends in a vowel. The
ending -seen is used, when the essive stem ends in a long vowel and the
nominative stem ends in a consonant or a relic consonant. For the illative plural,
there are three different case endings, too.

2.1 Words that end in a vowel

If a word ends in a single vowel or two vowels that do not form a diphthong and
the stem ends in a single vowel, the illative singular is formed with the ending
-Vn. Analogously, if the stem ends in a single vowel, the plural is formed with the
ending -in.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

kova kovaan koviin hard

reikä reikään reikiin hole

vesi veteen vesiin water

kansi kanteen kansiin lid

jälsi jälteen jälsiin cambium

virsi virteen virsiin hymn

The illative plural ending -hin is used, when the strong-grade plural stemends in a
diphthong or a long vowel. The singular is formed with the ending -Vn as above.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

kana kanaan kanoihin hen

nalle nalleen nalleihin teddy bear

kiivi kiiviin kiiveihin kiwi fruit

aatto aattoon aattoihin eve

koulu kouluun kouluihin school

pyry pyryyn pyryihin snowstorm

säilö säilöön säilöihin storage

neliö neliöön neliöihin square

If a one-syllable word ends in a long vowel or a diphthong, the illative singular is

formed by adding the ending -hVn to the essive stem. The plural is formed by
adding the ending -hin to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

maa maahan maihin country

tee teehen teihin tea

puu puuhun puihin tree

pää päähän päihin head

hai haihin haihin shark

suo suohon soihin marsh

tie tiehen teihin road

työ työhön töihin work

If a polysyllabic word ends in a long vowel or a diphthong, the illative singular is
formed with the ending -seen. The plural is formed with the ending -siin.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

vapaa vapaaseen vapaisiin free

tienoo tienooseen tienoisiin region

hakkuu hakkuuseen hakkuisiin logging

2.2 Words that end in a relic consonant

If a word ends in a relic consonant, the illative singular is formed with the ending
-seen and the plural with the ending -siin or -hin.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

vene veneeseen veneisiin boat

veneihin

koe kokeeseen kokeisiin test

kokeihin

laite laitteeseen laitteisiin device

laitteihin
2.3 Words that end in l, n, or r

If a word ends in l, n, or r, the illative singular is formed with the ending -Vn and
the plural with the ending -in.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

askel askeleen askeliin step

kyynel kyyneleen kyyneliin tear

sävel säveleen säveliin note, melody

sammal sammaleen sammaliin moss

nivel niveleen niveliin joint

kannel kanteleeseen kanteleisiin kantele

ommel ompeleeseen ompeleisiin stitch

taival taipaleeseen taipaleisiin trip

vemmel vempeleeseen vempeleisiin

avain avaimeen avaimiin key

sydän sydämeen sydämiin heart

hapan happamaan happamiin bitter

lämmin lämpimään lämpimiin warm

sisar sisareen sisariin sister

tytär tyttäreen tyttäriin daughter

In this group, there are words whose nominative stem can also have an additional
-e. These words decline like the words ending in a relic consonant (see above).

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

kantele kanteleeseen kanteleisiin kantele

(kannel) kanteleihin (an instrument)

kypene kypeneeseen kypeneisiin spark

(kyven) kypeneihin

pientare pientareeseen pientareisiin edge, shoulder

(piennar) pientareihin (of a road)

2.5 Words that end in t

If a word ends in t, the illative singular is formed by lengthening the last vowel of
the essive stem and adding -n after it. The illative plural is formed by adding the
ending -siin to the strong-grade plural stem.

Nominative Illative sg Illative pl Translation

ohut ohueen ohuisiin thin

neitsyt neitsyeen neitsyihin tear

lyhyt lyhyeen lyhyisiin shot

olut olueen oluisiin beer

tiehyt tiehyeen tiehyihin duct

Adessive

1 Case Endings
The adessive ending is -lla/-llä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of
vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation
The adessive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the adessive plural
using the plural stem. The adessive ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative Adessive sg Adessive pl Translation

jalka jalalla jaloilla foot

varas varkaalla varkailla thief

talo talolla taloilla house

vene veneellä veneillä boat

Ablative

1 Case Endings
The ablative ending is -lta/-ltä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of
vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation
The ablative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the ablative plural
using the plural stem. The ablative ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative Ablative sg Ablative pl Translation

jalka jalalta jaloilta foot

varas varkaalta varkailta thief

talo talolta taloilta house

vene veneeltä veneiltä boat

Allative

1 Case Endings
The allative ending is -lle both in the singular and in the plural.

2 Formation
The allative singular is formed using the genitive stem and the allative plural using
the plural stem. The allative ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative Allative sg Allative pl Translation

jalka jalalle jaloille foot

varas varkaalle varkaille thief

talo talolle taloille house

vene veneelle veneille boat

Abessive

1 Case Endings
The abessive ending is -tta/-ttä both in the singular and in the plural. Because of
vowel harmony the ending has two variants.

2 Formation
The abessive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the abessive plural
using the plural stem. The abessive ending is added directly to these stems.

Nominative Abessive sg Abessive pl Translation

jalka jalatta jaloitta foot

varas varkaatta varkaitta thief

talo talotta taloitta house

vene veneettä veneittä boat

Comitative

1 Case Endings
The comitative ending is -ne in the plural. Singular forms do not exist, but plural
forms are always used no matter, if the meaning is singular or plural.

2 Formation
The comitative plural is formed using the strong-grade plural stem. The comitative
ending is added directly to this stem. In addition, nouns always require a
possessive suffix. The possessive suffixes are -ni 'my', -si 'your' (sg), -en/-
nsa 'his, her, its, their', -mme 'our', and -nne 'your' (pl).

Nominative Comitative pl Translation

jalka jalkoineni foot

varas varkainesi thief

talo taloineen house

vene veneinemme boat

Instructive

1 Case Endings
The instructive ending is -n both in the singular and in the plural.

2 Formation
The instructive singular is formed using the genitive stem and the instructive
plural using the plural stem. The instructive ending is added directly to these
stems. The singular is not formed from all words.

Nominative Instructive sg Instructive pl Translation

jalka jalan jaloin foot

varas varkain thief

talo taloin house

vene venein boat

Case Endings

Singular Plural

Nominative - -t

Accusative -n / - / -t -t

Genitive -n -en / -in / -den / -tten / -ten

Partitive -a / -ä / -ta / -tä -a / -ä / -ta / -tä

Essive -na / -nä -na / -nä

Translative -ksi -ksi

Inessive -ssa / -ssä -ssa / -ssä

Elative -sta / -stä -sta / -stä

Illative -·n / -h·n / -seen -in / -hin / -siin

Adessive -lla / -llä -lla / -llä

Ablative -lta / -ltä -lta / -ltä

Allative -lle -lle

Abessive -tta / -ttä -tta / -ttä

Comitative -ne

Instructive -n -n

Singular Plural

Superessive -alla / -ällä

Delative -alta / -ältä

Sublative -alle / -nne

Lative -s
 Temporal -lloin / -llöin

Causative -ten -ten

Multiplicative -sti

Distributive -ttain / -ttäin -ttain / -ttäin

Temporal -sin
distributive

Prolative -tse -tse

Situative -kkain / -kkäin

Oppositive -tusten / -tysten

Basic cases

Nominative
The nominative indicates the subject or the predicate complement of the
sentence. The singular form does not have a suffix. The plural suffix is -t.

Finnish English
enkeli the angel
enkelit the angels
 Genitive
The genitive indicates the possessor. It often corresponds to the English genitive
suffix 's or the preposition of. The genitive suffix is -n in the singular and -en/-
in/-den/-tten/-ten in the plural. The plural suffix which is selected depends on
the type of word, but there are often many alternatives, anyway.

Finnish English
enkelin the angel's
enkelien the angels'
enkelein the angels'
enkeleiden the angels'
enkeleitten the angels'
enkelten the angels'

Accusative
The accusative indicates the object of the action. In the singular, the accusative
has either no suffix or its suffix is -n/-t. Thus all the nominals, except for some
exceptions, have two accusative forms which are always similar either to the
nominative or the genitive. The accusative suffix which is selected depends on the
context in the sentence. The accusative singular suffix -t is used only
with personal pronouns and the interrogative pronoun kuka 'who'. In the plural,
the accusative suffix is always -t and that makes the form similar to the
nominative plural.

Finnish English
enkeli the angel
enkelin the angel
enkelit the angels

General local cases

Partitive
The partitive indicates a part of something. Along with the accusative, the
partitive also indicates the object of the action. Anyway, the main difference
is that the accusative is used, when the action is directed at the whole object,
and the partitive, when the action is directed only at a part of it. In English,
this difference is sometimes expressed by omitting the article or by replacing
it by the word some. The partitive suffix is -a/-ä/-ta/-tä in both the singular
 and in the plural.

Finnish English
taloa (a part of) a house
taloja (some) houses

Essive
The essive expresses the state of something. It often corresponds to the
preposition as. The essive suffix is -na/-nä in both the singular and in the
plural.

Finnish English
talona as the house
taloina as the houses

Translative
The translative expresses the result of a process of change. The English
verbbecome includes the meaning of this case, for example. The translative
suffix is -ksi in both the singular and in the plural.

Finnish English
taloksi becoming a house
taloiksi becoming houses

Interior local cases

Inessive
The inessive expresses a location within something. It often corresponds to
the preposition in. The inessive suffix is -ssa/-ssä in both the singular and in
the plural.
 Finnish English
talossa in the house
taloissa in the houses

Elative
The elative expresses motion out of or away from something. It often
corresponds to the prepositions out of or from. The elative suffix is -sta/-
stäin both the singular and in the plural.

Finnish English
talosta out of the house
taloista out of the houses

Illative
The illative expresses motion into something. It often corresponds to the
prepositions in or into. The illative suffix is -h·n, -seen or vowel
lengthening +n in the singular and -hin or -siin in the plural.

Finnish English
taloon into the house
taloihin into the houses

Exterior local cases

Adessive
The adessive expresses the location on or near something. It often
corresponds to the preposition on. The adessive suffix is -lla/-llä in both the
singular and in the plural.

Finnish English
 pöydällä on the table
pöydillä on the tables

Ablative
The ablative expresses motion from the surface or vicinity of something. It
often corresponds to the prepositions off or from. The ablative suffix is -lta/-
ltä in both the singular and in the plural.

Finnish English
pöydältä from the table
pöydiltä from the tables

Allative
The allative expresses motion onto the surface or to the vicinity of
something. It often corresponds to the prepositions on or onto. The allative
suffix is -lle in both the singular and in the plural.

Finnish English
pöydälle onto the table
pöydille onto the tables

Means cases

Abessive
The abessive expresses the lack of something. It often corresponds to the
preposition without. The abessive suffix is -tta/-ttä in both the singular and in
the plural.

Finnish English
jalatta without the foot
 jaloitta without the feet

Comitative
The comitative expresses the presence of something. It often corresponds to the
preposition with. The comitative suffix is -ne in the plural. The comitative does
not occur in the singular, but plural forms are used instead, even if the meaning
is singular. The nouns require a possessive suffix as well.

Finnish English
jalkoineen with his/her feet

Instructive
The instructive expresses the means or the instrument used to perform the
action. It often corresponds to the preposition with. The instructive suffix is -nin
both the singular and in the plural. Singular forms are not very common.

Finnish English
jalan by foot
jaloin with the feet

Adverbial cases

Overview
The usage of adverbial cases is limited to a small number of words.
Adverbial cases do not normally have attributes. That is why they are often
regarded as adverbs.

Superessive
The usage of the superessive is limited to a small number of pronouns. The
superessive expresses a place where something is located. The superessive
suffix is -alla/-ällä in the singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish English
täällä here
tuolla over there
siellä there
muualla elsewhere
toisaalla elsewhere
yhtäällä in one place
moniaalla in many places
kaikkialla everywhere

Delative
The usage of the delative is limited to a small number of pronouns. The
delative expresses a place where something comes from. The delative suffix
is -alta/-ältä in the singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish English
täältä from here
tuolta from over there
sieltä from there
muualta from elsewhere
toisaalta from elsewhere
on the other hand
yhtäältä from one place
moniaalta from many places
kaikkialta from everywhere

Sublative
The usage of the sublative is limited to a small number of pronouns. The
sublative expresses a place where something goes to. The sublative suffix is
-alle or -nne in the singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish English
minne where to
jonne where (relative pronoun)
tänne here
tuonne over there
sinne there
muualle elsewhere
muuanne elsewhere
toisaalle elsewhere
yhtäälle to one place
moniaalle to many places
kaikkialle to everywhere
Lative
The usage of the lative is limited to a small number of adverb stems and
comparative forms. The lative expresses a place where something goes to.
The lative suffix is -s or - in the singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish English
alas down
ylös up
taa behind
luo to
työ to
taas again
edes at least, even
lähemmäs closer to
kauemmas further, farther away, farther
off
alemmas farther down
ylemmäs higher up
taemmas further back
edemmäs farther on, farther off
rannemmas closer to the shore

Temporal
The usage of the temporal is limited to a small number of pronouns. The
temporal expresses the point in time. The temporal suffix is -lloin/-llöin in
the singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish English
milloin when
jolloin when (relative)
tällöin at this time
silloin then
tuolloin at that time
muulloin at another time

Causative
The usage of the causative is limited to a small number of pronouns,
adjectives and their superlative forms. The causative suffix is -ten in both
the singular and in the plural.

Finnish English
joten so, thus, therefore
siten thus, therefore
täten hereby, thus
miten how
kuten as, like
jotenkin somehow
kuitenkin anyway
kuitenkaan anyway (negative)
jotenkuten somehow
vähiten (the) least
parhaiten best
nopeiten fastest
eniten most
kauiten longest
useimmiten mostly
vanhemmiten later in life

Multiplicative
The usage of the multiplicative is limited to a small number of nouns
(especially swear words), pronouns and short numerals. Moreover, all the
adjectives decline in the multiplicative. In the multiplicative, swear words
express a huge amount of something or the power of the action. Adjectives
express the means of the action and pronouns and numerals express how
many times the action is performed. The multiplicative suffix is -sti in the
singular. The plural forms are not used.

Finnish English
pirusti a damned lot
leikisti not really
kauniisti beautifully
useasti many times
monesti many times
kolmesti three times, thrice
pakosti by force

Distributive
The usage of the distributive is limited to a small number of nouns,
adjectives and numerals. The distributive suffix is -ttain/-ttäin in both the
singular and in the plural. Singular forms are used very seldom.

Finnish English
paikoittain here and there
suomalaisittainin a Finnish way
yksittäin one at a time
ryhmittäin a group at a time

Temporal Distributive
The usage of the temporal distributive is limited to a small number of adverb
stems and nouns. The temporal distributive expresses the origin of
something or the frequent point in time. The temporal distributive suffix is
-sin in the plural. The singular forms are not used.

Finnish English
maanantaisin Mondays
arkisin weekdays
pyhisin Sundays and holidays
viikonloppuisin weekends, on the weekend
kesäisin summers, in the summer
talvisin winters, in the winter
aikaisin early
alkuisin originally
lähtöisin originally
peräisin originally
syntyisin born (in), by birth, originally
sekaisin in disorder, mixed up
takaisin back
jalkaisin by foot

Prolative
The usage of the prolative is limited to a small number of nouns and adverb
stems. The prolative expresses the means by which something can go or be
sent. The prolative suffix is -tse in both the singular and in the plural.
Singular forms are seldom used.

Finnish English
postitse by mail
maitse by land
jäitse across the ice
meritse by sea
vesitse by water
lentoteitse by plane
ohitse over
lävitse through
alitse under
ylitse over

Situative
The usage of the situative is limited to a small number of adverb stems and
nouns. The situative expresses the location of two things compared with
each other. The situative suffix is -kkain/-kkäin in the singular. The plural
forms are not used.

Finnish English
nenäkkäin nose to nose
nokakkain beak to beak
sisäkkäin inside each other, one inside
the other
vastakkain against each other, opposite to
each other
lähekkäin near to each other, close
together
vierekkäin next to each other, side by side
seläkkäin back to back