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, , j a . The letters and 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:ist 'from the WCs', and tv:ss '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: 'n' (partitive) and s:n 'into s' (illative).

Vowels

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

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], [], [p], [r], [s], [t], and [v]. Phonemes [b], [f], [g], [ ], [z], and [] 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], [], [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 [] phoneme has no letter of its own. The long [] phoneme may occur only between two vowels and it is marked with ng then, e.g. kengt [ket] 'shoes' and kuningas [kunias] 'king'. The short [] phoneme is marked with n in front of k, e.g. kenk [kek] 'shoe' and sanka [saka] 'handle', and with g in front of n, e.g. signaali [sina:li] 'signal' and magneetti [mane:tti] 'magnet', and with ng elsewhere, e.g. englanti [elanti] 'English' and kongressi [koressi] 'congress'.

Consonant gradation
Strong grade Weak grade

KK/PP/TT kukka pappi matto K/P/T kki kyky kpy koti LK/LP/LT jalka jlki halpa silta RK/RP/RT mrk kurki arpa kerta NK/MP/NT kenk kampa ranta HK/(HP)/HT vihko lahti GG/BB/(DD) diggaan dubbaan

K/P/T kukan papin maton -(V)/V/D ken kyvyn kvyn kodin L(J)/LV/LL jalan jljen halvan sillan R(J)/RV/RR mrn kurjen arvan kerran NG/MM/NN kengn kamman rannan H/-/HD vihon lahden G/B/digata dubata

flower pastor carpet cuckoo ability cone home foot track cheap bridge wet crane lot time shoe comb shore notebook bay I like I dub

of the flower of the pastor of the carpet of the cuckoo of the ability of the cone of the home of the foot of the track of the cheap (thing) of the brigde of the wet (thing) of the crane of the lot of the time of the shoe of the comb of the shore of the notebook of the bay to like to dub

Vowel change I > E

Nominative Genetive Partitive English

alpi appi arki arpi hanhi hanki happi hapsi hauki heisi helmi henki hetki hiili hiiri hiisi hiki hirsi hirvi huoli huuli impi joki jouhi jousi juoni juuri jlki jlsi jrki jrvi Jski kaali kaari kaihi kaikki kaksi kampi kanki kansi karhi kaski kausi

alven apen arjen arven hanhen hangen hapen hapsen hauen heiden helmen hengen hetken hiilen hiiren hiiden hien hirren hirven huolen huulen immen joen jouhen jousen juonen juuren jljen jllen jrjen jrven Jsken kaalen kaaren kaihen kaiken kahden kammen kangen kannen karhen kasken kauden

alpea appea arkea arpea hanhea hankea happea hasta / hapsea haukea heitt helme henke hetke hiilt hiirt hiitt hike hirtt hirve huolta huulta impe jokea jouhea jousta juonta juurta jlke jltt jrke jrve Jske kaalta kaarta kaihea kaikkea kahta kampea kankea kantta karhea kaskea kautta

loosestrife (Lysimachia) father-in-law workday scar goose snow oxygen slight hair pike cranberry bush (Viburnum) pearl breath moment coal mouse holy grove sweat timber elk trouble lip virgin river horsehair bow vein root track cambium mind lake a town in Karelia cabbage curve cataract, glaucoma all two crank pry bar cover harrow burn-clearing era

kieli kiiski kilpi kirsi kivi koipi korpi korsi koski kuori kurki kusi kuusi kuusi kylki Kymi kynsi kki krki ksi kysi lahti laki lampi lapsi lehti lempi leski liemi liesi lohi loimi Louhi lovi lumi luomi lnki lnsi meri mesi mieli moni mki niemi niini nimi noki nummi

kielen kiisken kilven kirren kiven koiven korven korren kosken kuoren kurjen kusen kuuden kuusen kyljen Kymen kynnen ken krjen kden kyden lahden laen lammen lapsen lehden lemmen lesken liemen lieden lohen loimen Louhen loven lumen luomen lngen lnnen meren meden mielen monen men niemen niinen nimen noen nummen

kielt language, tongue kiiske ruffe kilpe shield kirtt frost kive stone koipea leg korpea woods kortta straw koskea rapids kuorta peel kurkea crane kusta piss kuutta six kuusta spruce (Picea) kylke side Kyme a river in Finland kyntt nail kke cockoo krke point ktt hand kytt rope lahtea bay lakea top (of a hill) lampea pond lasta child lehte leaf lempe love leske widow(er) lient broth liett stove lohta salmon loimea warp, blanket Louhea a figure in Kalevala lovea nick lunta snow luomea eyelid lnke lntt west merta see mett honey mielt mind monta many mke hill nient / nieme cape niint bast nime name nokea soot nummea moor

nuoli nuori nurmi nrhi onki onni orsi ovi paasi parsi parvi peitsi pieli pieni piki pilvi polvi ponsi poski povi puoli pursi putki plvi reki reisi retki riihi ripsi rupi ruuhi saari saarni saksi salmi sampi sappi sarvi savi seimi sieni siili siipi sini solki soppi sormi

nuolen nuoren nurmen nrhen ongen onnen orren oven paaden parren parven peitsen pielen pienen pien pilven polven ponnen posken poven puolen purren putken plven reen reiden retken riihen ripsen ruven ruuhen saaren saarnen saksen salmen sammen sapen sarven saven seimen sienen siilen siiven sinen soljen sopen sormen

nuolta arrow nuorta young nurmea grass nrhe jay onkea rod and line onnea luck ortta perch ovea door paatta rock bench partta stall parvea flock peist / peitse lance pielt edge pient small pike pitch pilve cloud polvea knee pontta anther poskea cheek povea bust puolta half purtta boat, yacht putkea pipe plve small snowless area (in the spring) reke sleigh reitt thigh retke trip riiht drying barn ripse eyelash rupea scab ruuhta punt saarta island saarnea ash saksea scissors salmea strait sampea sturgeon sappea gall bladder sarvea horn savea clay seime manger sient mushroom siilt hedgehog siipe wing sine blue solkea buckle soppea place, corner sormea finger

suksi suoli Suomi suomi suoni susi suuri suvi syli sylki sysi snki srki sri sski taimi talvi tammi teeri telki tiili tilhi toimi tonki torvi tosi tuki tuli tuohi tuomi tuoni tuppi tuuli typpi tyvi tyyni thti tysi uksi uni uuhi uusi varsi veitsi veli veri

suksen suolen Suomen suomen suonen suden suuren suven sylen syljen syden sngen srjen sren ssken taimen talven tammen teeren teljen tiilen tilhen toimen tongen torven toden tuen tulen tuohen tuomen tuonen tupen tuulen typen tyven tyynen thden tyden uksen unen uuhen uuden varren veitsen veljen veren

suksea / susta suolta Suomea suomea suonta sutta suurta suvea sylt sylke sytt snke srke srt sske taimea talvea tammea teert telke tiilt tilhe tointa / toimea tonkea torvea totta tukea tulta tuohta tuomea / tuonta tuonta tuppea tuulta typpe tyve tyynt thte tytt usta unta uuhta uutta vartta veist / veitse velje verta

ski intestine Finland Finnish blood vessel wolf big summer fathom saliva coal stubble roach shin mosquito seedling winter oak black grouse bolt brick waxwing job, post pliers horn true support fire birch bark black cherry death sheath wind nitrogen base still star full door sleep female sheep new stem knife brother blood

vesi vieri viiksi viini viisi virpi virsi vuohi Vuoksi vuori vuosi vyyhti vki yksi ni ri

veden vieren viiksen viinen viiden virven virren vuohen Vuoksen vuoren vuoden vyyhden ven yhden nen ren

vett viert viikse viint viitt virpe virtt vuohta Vuoksea vuorta vuotta vyyhte vke yht nt rt

water side mustache quiver five twig hymn goat a river in Finland mountain year skein people one voice edge

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

min

me

2nd

sin

te

3rd

hn

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

tm

nm

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 Tm and nm
The pronouns tm 'this' and nm 'these' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are close to or within the reach of the speaker.
Tm on hauskaa! This is funny! (The speaker is participating in an action that he or she likes.)

Tm 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.)

Tm and nm are declined according to the word they determine.

tss suuressa kirjassa in this big book

niss suurissa kirjoissa

in these big books

ennen tt kaunista piv

before this nice day

niden kauniiden pivien jlkeen

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 synkn metsn keskell

in the middle of that dark forest

ennen noita kiireisi ihmisi

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 pydlle onto the/that old table

niiden pienten lasten

of the/those little children

siihen viimeiseen pivn 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 + ns

itse + ns

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

Indefinite Pronouns

muu jompikumpi kaikki kumpikin kumpikaan kumpainenkaan kukin kukaan mikin mikn ers joku jokin moni mones molemmat usea jokainen toinen muutama sama yksi

other either one all both neither neither each anybody each anything one somebody something many [no translation] both many everybody other some same 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

mik

what

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

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

Relative Pronouns
joka mik which what

Numbers

1 Cardinal Numbers
The cardinal numbers are the following:
In Numbers In Letters

nolla

yksi

kaksi

kolme

nelj

viisi

kuusi

seitsemn

kahdeksan

yhdeksn

10

kymmenen

11

yksitoista

12

kaksitoista

13

kolmetoista

14

neljtoista

15

viisitoista

16

kuusitoista

17

seitsemntoista

18

kahdeksantoista

19

yhdeksntoista

20

kaksikymment

21

kaksikymmentyksi

22

kaksikymmentkaksi

23

kaksikymmentkolme

24

kaksikymmentnelj

25

kaksikymmentviisi

26

kaksikymmentkuusi

27

kaksikymmentseitsemn

28

kaksikymmentkahdeksan

29

kaksikymmentyhdeksn

30

kolmekymment

40

neljkymment

50

viisikymment

60

kuusikymment

70

seitsemnkymment

80

kahdeksankymment

90

yhdeksnkymment

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.

ensimminen

2.

toinen

3.

kolmas

4.

neljs

5.

viides

6.

kuudes

7.

seitsems

8.

kahdeksas

9.

yhdekss

10.

kymmenes

11.

yhdestoista

12.

kahdestoista

13.

kolmastoista

14.

neljstoista

15.

viidestoista

16.

kuudestoista

17.

seitsemstoista

18.

kahdeksastoista

19.

yhdeksstoista

20.

kahdeskymmenes

21.

kahdeskymmenesensimminen

22.

kahdeskymmenestoinen

23.

kahdeskymmeneskolmas

24.

kahdeskymmenesneljs

25.

kahdeskymmenesviides

26.

kahdeskymmeneskuudes

27.

kahdeskymmenesseitsems

28.

kahdeskymmeneskahdeksas

29.

kahdeskymmenesyhdekss

30.

kolmaskymmenes

40.

neljskymmenes

50.

viideskymmenes

60.

kuudeskymmenes

70.

seitsemskymmenes

80.

kahdeksaskymmenes

90.

yhdeksskymmenes

100.

sadas

101.

sadasensimminen

1000.

tuhannes

1001.

tuhannesensimminen

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 2nd person 3rd person

-n -t

-mme -tte

-, vowel lengthening -vat/-vt

2.2

Present Passive

The present passive indicative is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/tand 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/-t -ta/-t -ta/-t -ta/-t -ta/-t + + + + + Vn Vn Vn Vn Vn -> -> -> -> -> -taan/-tn -daan/-dn -laan/-ln -naan/-nn -raan/-rn

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 2nd person 3rd person

-i + n -i + t -i

-i + mme -i + tte -i + vat/vt

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/-t + i + Vn -> -tiin -tta/-tt + i + Vn -> -ttiin

3 Imperative
The imperative expresses that the action is forced or desired. Its marker is a relic consonant, -ko/-k, or -kaa/-k. 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 2nd person 3rd person relic consonant

-kaa + mme -kaa + (tte)

-ko + on / -k + n -ko + ot / -k + t

3.2

Present Passive

The present passive imperative is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-tor -tta/-tt, the mood marker -ko/-k, 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/-t + ko/k + Vn -> -takoon/-tkn -tta/-tt + ko/k + Vn -> -ttakoon/-ttkn

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 2nd person 3rd person

-isi + n -isi + t -isi

-isi + mme -isi + tte -isi + vat/vt

4.2

Present Passive

The present passive conditional is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-tor -tta/-tt, 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/-t + isi + Vn -> -taisiin/-tisiin -tta/-tt + isi + Vn -> -ttaisiin/-ttisiin

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 2nd person 3rd person

-ne + n -ne + t -ne + e

-ne + mme -ne + tte -ne + vat/vt

5.2

Present Passive

The present passive potential is formed by adding the passive marker -ta/-tor -tta/-tt, 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/-t + ne + Vn -> -taneen/-tneen -tta/-tt + ne + Vn -> -ttaneen/-ttneen

Alistuskonjunktiot
Subordinating conjunctions Unterordnende Konjunktionen
ett jotta koska kun jos vaikka kuin kunnes jahka ellen jollen joskin kuten tokko niin ett ennen kuin niin kuin ikn kuin

jos kohta

Rinnastuskonjunktiot
Coordinating conjunctions Nebenordnende Konjunktionen
ja ynn sek sek - ett -k eli tai tahi taikka joko - tai vai mutta vaan sill paitsi net nimittin

Adverb stems
alaylesitakalhikaukoulkosiskeskivieri etohimukaymprivastapoikityk-

under upper front behind near far out in middle side far at, over with around against away by

luolikiseka-

by near 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 Nominative sg Accusative sg (short) Genitive pl Word jalka jalka jalkain Translation the foot the foot 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, , and . 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 nalle kiivi talo koulu syy kyl y

koira-n nalle-n kiivi-n talo-n koulu-n syy-n kyl-n y-n

dog teddy bear kiwi fruit house school reason village 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 vihko

silla-n viho-n

bridge 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 srki

koive-n srje-n

leg 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 kansi jlsi virsi

vede-n kanne-n jlle-n virre-n

water lid cambium 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 kuusi

kuse-n kuuse-n

piss 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 kaksi

yhde-n kahde-n

one 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 isompi kauniimpi

suuremma-n isomma-n kauniimma-n

bigger bigger nicer

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

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

varis hius tulos kynnys vrenns Type II

varikse-n hiukse-n tulokse-n kynnykse-n

crow hair result treshold

vrennkse-n forgery

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 kauneus rakkaus teollisuus hyvyys Type III

osuude-n kauneude-n rakkaude-n teollisuude-n hyvyyde-n

share, part beauty love industry goodness

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 neljs

kolmanne-n neljnne-n

the third the fourth

tuhannes mones

tuhannenne-n the thousandth 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), -s (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 tehdas varvas kiuas kirves tiivis uros rysts

karvaa-n tehtaa-n varpaa-n kiukaa-n kirvee-n tiivii-n uroo-n ryst-n

bitter factory toe sauna heater ax compact male 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 mies

parhaa-n miehe-n

the best 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/-tn, and superlative forms ending in -in, decline in a different way and they will be discussed separately below.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

avain sydn sadin hapan otin

avaime-n sydme-n satime-n happame-n ottime-n

key heart trap sour handle

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

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

hapan lmmin

happama-n lmpim-n

sour 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 joutsen jsen hyhen hiven tyven

ikene-n joutsene-n jsene-n hyhene-n hivene-n tyvene-n

gum swan member, part feather small amount calm

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

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

hevonen ihminen puinen

hevose-n ihmise-n puise-n

horse person wooden

If a word ends in -ton/-tn, the genitive stem is formed by replacing theton/tn by ttoma/ttm. Note that the change from t to tt is caused by the consonant gradation.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

mahdoton tytn

mahdottoma-n impossible tyttm-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/mm. This group also includes the word vasen'left'.

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

suurin kaunein mrin kyhin vasen

suurimma-n

the biggest

kauneimma-n the nicest mrimm-n kyhimm-n vasemma-n the wettest the poorest 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

seitsemn kahdeksan yhdeksn kymmenen

seitsem-n kahdeksa-n yhdeks-n kymmenen-n

seven eight nine ten seventeen

seitsemntoista seitsem-ntoista kahdeksantoistakahdeksa-ntoista yhdeksntoista yhdeks-ntoista

eighteen

nineteen

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 kannel kyynel svel sammal ommel taival nivel vemmel petkel

askele-n kantele-n kyynele-n svele-n sammale-n ompele-n taipale-n nivele-n vempele-n petkele-n

step kantele tear note, melody moss stitch trip joint

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) daughter sister

tytr sisar

tyttre-n sisare-n

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

Nominative

Genitive

Translation

kevt

kev-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 olut

ohue-n olue-n

thin beer

lyhyt neitsyt ktkyt airut kevyt ehyt tiehyt pehmyt

lyhye-n neitsye-n ktkye-n airue-n kevye-n ehye-n tiehye-n pehmye-n

short virgin

harbinger light whole duct 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 laulanut synyt vienyt

juossee-n laulanee-n synee-n vienee-n

run sung eaten 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 radar Internet Linux Windows New York

rocki-n radari-n Interneti-n Linuxi-n Windowsi-n New Yorki-n

rock music radar Internet Linux Windows 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 Accusative sg (long) Genitive sg Translative sg Inessive sg Elative sg Adessive sg Ablative sg Allative sg Abessive sg

jalka jalan jalan jalaksi jalassa jalasta jalalla jalalta jalalle jalatta

the foot the foot of the foot becoming the foot in the foot out of the foot on the foot from the foot onto the foot without the foot

Instructive sg Nominative pl Accusative pl

jalan jalat jalat

by foot the feet 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 -s will be added later.)

Nominative ahdas allas ahnas altis armas aulis autuas hammas harras hauras hidas hirvas ies kangas kallis kalvas karsas karvas katras

Genitive ahtaan altaan ahnaan alttiin armaan auliin autuaan hampaan hartaan hauraan hitaan hirvaan ikeen kankaan kalliin kalvaan karsaan karvaan katraan

Partitive ahdasta allasta ahnasta altista armasta aulista autuasta hammasta harrasta haurasta hidasta hirvasta iest kangasta kallista kalvasta karsasta karvasta katrasta

English narrow, tight basin greedy exposed dear helpful blessed tooth devout fragile slow yoke some expensive pale unwilling bitter herd

kaunis kauris keidas kernas kinnas kiivas kirves kitsas kiuas koiras kokelas kuhilas kuningas kunnas kuulas lammas lipas lounas lunnas mallas marras mies naaras nauris opas oas oinas olas oppilas oras parras paljas paras patsas pensas piiras porras porsas potilas pudas puhdas ratas raavas rahvas raitis raihnas rastas ratsas rengas reipas rietas ruhtinas ruis runsas ruumis saapas

kauniin kauriin keitaan kernaan kintaan kiivaan kirveen kitsaan kiukaan koiraan kokelaan kuhilaan kuninkaan kunnaan kuulaan lampaan lippaan lounaan lunnaan maltaan martaan miehen naaraan nauriin oppaan okaan oinaan olaan oppilaan oraan partaan paljaan parhaan patsaan pensaan piiraan portaan porsaan potilaan putaan puhtaan rattaan raavaan rahvaan raittiin raihnaan rastaan ratsaan renkaan reippaan riettaan ruhtinaan rukiin runsaan ruumiin saappaan

kaunista kaurista keidasta kernasta kinnasta kiivasta kirvest kitsasta kiuasta koirasta kokelasta kuhilasta kuningasta kunnasta kuulasta lammasta lipasta lounasta lunnasta mallasta marrasta miest naarasta naurista opasta oasta oinasta olasta oppilasta orasta parrasta paljasta parasta patsasta pensasta piirasta porrasta porsasta potilasta pudasta puhdasta ratasta raavasta rahvasta raitista raihnasta rastasta ratsasta rengasta reipasta rietasta ruhtinasta ruista runsasta ruumista saapasta

beautiful mountain goat oasis eager mitten intense ax stingy sauna heater male candidate shock, stook king clear sheep box lunch; southwest ransom malt dead man female turnip guide wether pupil new crop edge bare the best statue bush step pig patient clean cogwheel big people fresh decrepit ring, tire snappy indecent prince rye rich body boot

saalis sairas sees sotilas tahdas taivas tehdas teuras tiivis toipilas tupas tuores turilas tursas tyyris uros uuras valpas varas varras varvas valas valmis vauras vehmas vilpas vieras viisas vitsas vuolas es

saaliin sairaan sekeen sotilaan tahtaan taivaan tehtaan teuraan tiiviin toipilaan tuppaan tuoreen turilaan tursaan tyyriin uroon uuraan valppaan varkaan vartaan varpaan valaan valmiin vauraan vehmaan vilppaan vieraan viisaan vitsaan vuolaan keen

saalista sairasta seest sotilasta tahdasta taivasta tehdasta teurasta tiivist toipilasta tupasta tuoresta turilasta tursasta tyyrist urosta uurasta valpasta varasta varrasta varvasta valasta valmista vaurasta vehmasta vilpasta vierasta viisasta vitsasta vuolasta est

prey sick clear soldier paste sky factory slaughtered (animal) tight convalescent fresh expensive male busy attentive thief spit toe whale ready rich lush guest wise twig fast-flowing 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/-/-ta/-t 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 nalle kiivi talo koulu syy kyl y silta vihko

koira-a nalle-a kiivi- talo-a koulu-a syy-t kyl- y-t silta-a vihko-a

dog teddy bear kiwi fruit house school reason village night bridge 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 kieli pieni

jouh-ta kiel-t pien-t

horsehair language 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 sini veli

Louhe-a sine- velje-

Louhi the blue brother

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

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

meri veri

mer-ta ver-ta

sea 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 kuusi kansi jlsi virsi

vet-t kuut-ta kant-ta jlt-t virt-t

water six lid

hymn

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

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

jousi

jous-ta

bow

kusi kuusi

kus-ta kuus-ta

piss 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 kaksi uksi suksi

yh-t kah-ta us-ta sukse-a or sus-ta (old form)

one two door ski

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 lapsi peitsi veitsi

has-ta las-ta peis-t

hair child lance

veis-t (veitse- knife )

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 nimi

lun-ta nime-

snow 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 saarni thti kurki

tamme-a saarne-a thte- kurke-a

oak ash star crane

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

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

suurempi isompi kauniimpi

suurempa-a isompa-a kauniimpa-a

bigger bigger 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 koe laite

venet-t koet-ta laitet-ta

boat test 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 hius tulos kynnys vrenns karvas tehdas varvas kiuas kirves tiivis uros rysts paras mies

varikse-n hiukse-n tulokse-n kynnykse-n

varis-ta hius-ta tulos-ta kynnys-t

crow hair result treshold forgery bitter factory toe sauna heater ax compact male eaves the best man

vrennkse-n vrenns-t karvaa-n tehtaa-n varpaa-n kiukaa-n kirvee-n tiivii-n uroo-n ryst-n parhaa-n miehe-n karvas-ta tehdas-ta varvas-ta kiuas-ta kirves-t tiivis-t uros-ta rysts-t paras-ta mies-t

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 rakkaus teollisuus hyvyys kolmas neljs tuhannes mones

kauneude-n rakkaude-n teollisuude-n hyvyyde-n kolmanne-n neljnne-n

kauneut-ta rakkaut-ta teollisuut-ta hyvyyt-t kolmat-ta neljt-t

beauty love industry goodness the third the fourth the thousandth

tuhannenne-n tuhannet-ta 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 ihminen puinen

hevos-ta ihmis-t puis-ta

horse person 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 isoin vasen

suurin-ta isoin-ta vasen-ta

the biggest the biggest left

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

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

suurin isoin vasen

suurimpa-a isoimpa-a vasempa-a

the biggest the biggest left

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

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

avain sydn sadin hapan otin lmmin ien joutsen mahdoton tytn

avain-ta sydn-t sadin-ta hapan-ta otin-ta lmmin-t ien-t joutsen-ta mahdoton-ta tytn-t

key heart trap sour handle warm gum swan impossible unemployed

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

Nominative

Partitive

Translation

seitsemn kahdeksan yhdeksn kymmenen

seitsem- kahdeksa-a yhdeks- kymmenen-t

seven eight nine ten seventeen

seitsemntoista seitsem-toista

kahdeksantoistakahdeksa-atoista yhdeksntoista yhdeks-toista

eighteen

nineteen

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 kannel kyynel svel sammal ommel taival nivel vemmel petkel

askel-ta kannel-ta kyynel-t svel-t sammal-ta ommel-ta taival-ta nivel-t vemmel-t petkel-t

step kantele tear note, melody moss stitch trip joint

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) daughter

tytr

tytr-t

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

kevt tuhat ohut olut lyhyt neitsyt ktkyt airut kevyt ehyt tiehyt pehmyt ainut juossut laulanut synyt vienyt

kevt-t tuhat-ta ohut-ta olut-ta lyhyt-t neitsyt-t ktkyt-t airut-ta kevyt-t ehyt-t tiehyt-t pehmyt-t ainut-ta juossut-ta laulanut-ta synyt-t vienyt-t

spring thousand thin beer short virgin cradle harbinger light whole duct soft only run sung eaten 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 radar Internet Linux Windows New York

rocki-a radari-a Interneti- Linuxi-a Windowsi-a New Yorki-a

rock music radar Internet Linux Windows 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/- is added to a stem which ends in a single vowel, and the ending -ta/-t 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 Partitive sg Genitive pl kielt kielten

language language 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 nalle kiivi talo koulu

koira-a nalle-a kiivi- talo-a koulu-a

koira-na nalle-na kiivi-n talo-na koulu-na

dog teddy bear kiwi fruit house school

syy kyl y silta vihko

syy-t kyl- y-t silta-a vihko-a

syy-n kyl-n y-n silta-na vihko-na

reason village night bridge 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 saarni thti kurki

tamme-a saarne-a thte- kurke-a

tamme-na saarne-na thte-n kurke-na

oak ash star 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 kieli pieni saari meri veri kuusi

jouh-ta kiel-t pien-t saar-ta mer-ta ver-ta kuus-ta

jouhe-na kiele-n piene-n saare-na mere-n vere-n kuuse-na

horsehair language small island sea blood spruce

kuusi kansi jlsi virsi

kuut-ta kant-ta jlt-t virt-t

kuute-na kante-na jlte-n virte-n

six lid cambium 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 nimi suomi

lume-n nime-n suome-n

lume-na nime-n suome-na

snow name 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 kaksi uksi suksi

yhde-n kahde-n ukse-n sukse-n

yhte-n kahte-na ukse-na sukse-na

one two door 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 lapsi peitsi veitsi

hapse-n lapse-n peitse-n veitse-n

hapse-na lapse-na peitse-n veitse-n

hair child lance 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 karvas avain askel tytr ohut juossut laulanut synyt vienyt

venee-n karvaa-n avaime-n askele-n tyttre-n ohue-n juossee-n laulanee-n synee-n vienee-n

venee-n karvaa-na avaime-na askele-na tyttre-n ohue-na juossee-na laulanee-na synee-n vienee-n

boat bitter key step daughter thin run sung eaten 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 isoin vasen

suurimma-n isoimma-n vasemma-n

suurimpa-na isoimpa-na vasempa-na

the biggest the biggest 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 kauneus rakkaus teollisuus hyvyys

osuude-n kauneude-n rakkaude-n teollisuude-n hyvyyde-n

osuute-na kauneute-na rakkaute-na

share, part beauty love

teollisuute-na industry hyvyyte-n 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 neljs tuhannes mones tuhat

kolmanne-n neljnne-n

kolmante-na neljnte-n

the third the fourth

tuhannenne-n tuhannente-na the thousandth monenne-n tuhanne-n monente-na 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 Illative

kielen kieleen

as the language 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 Accusative sg Genitive sg kieleni kieleni

my language my language of my language my languages my languages

Nominative pl kieleni Accusative pl kieleni

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 muna loota luuta koira kuiva routa juoma

kova-ssa muna-ssa looda-ssa luuda-ssa koira-ssa kuiva-ssa rouda-ssa juoma-ssa

kovi-ssa muni-ssa loodi-ssa luudi-ssa koiri-ssa kuivi-ssa roudi-ssa juomi-ssa

hard egg box broom dog dry frost 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 vaaka helma Veera ripa hiiva laiva kauppa keila leuka hiekka tiukka

kana-ssa vaa'a-ssa helma-ssa Veera-ssa riva-ssa hiiva-ssa laiva-ssa kaupa-ssa keila-ssa leua-ssa hieka-ssa tiuka-ssa

kanoi-ssa vaaoi-ssa helmoi-ssa Veeroi-ssa rivoi-ssa hiivoi-ssa laivoi-ssa kaupoi-ssa keiloi-ssa leuoi-ssa hiekoi-ssa tiukoi-ssa

hen scale hem Veera handle yeast ship shop bowling pin chin sand 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 mustikka

mansika-ssa mustika-ssa

mansikoi-ssa mustikoi-ssa

strawberry blueberry

b) Words that end in a single If a word ends in a single , the plural stem is formed by replacing by the plural marker i.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

vr rk

vr-ss r-ss

vri-ss ri-ss

wrong 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 kahvi kaappi

kiivi-ss kahvi-ssa kaapi-ssa

kiivei-ss kahvei-ssa kaapei-ssa

kiwi fruit coffee 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 koipi mki

kiele-ss koive-ssa me-ss

kieli-ss koivi-ssa mi-ss

language leg 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 kansi

vede-ss kanne-ssa

vesi-ss kansi-ssa

water lid

jlsi virsi

jlle-ss virre-ss

jlsi-ss virsi-ss

cambium hymn

d) Words that end in a single e, o, u, y, or If a word ends in a single e, o, u, y, or , the plural stem is formed by adding the plural marker i to the genitive stem.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

nalle aatto koulu pyry sil

nalle-ssa aato-ssa koulu-ssa pyry-ss sil-ss

nallei-ssa aatoi-ssa koului-ssa pyryi-ss sili-ss

teddy bear eve school snowstorm 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 tee ehtoo puu pyy p

maa-ssa tee-ss ehtoo-ssa puu-ssa pyy-ss p-ss

mai-ssa tei-ss ehtoi-ssa pui-ssa pyi-ss pi-ss

country tea evening tree hazelhen 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 koi

hai-ssa koi-ssa

hai-ssa koi-ssa

shark moth

f) Word ends in ie, uo, or y If a one-syllable word ends in the diphthong ie, uo, or y, 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 suo ty

tie-ss suo-ssa ty-ss

tei-ss soi-ssa ti-ss

road marsh 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 -y.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

neli kolmio

neli-ss kolmio-ssa

nelii-ss kolmioi-ssa

square 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 kauneus rakkaus teollisuus

osuude-ssa

osuuksi-ssa

share, part

kauneude-ssa kauneuksi-ssa beauty rakkaude-ssa rakkauksi-ssa love teollisuude-ssa teollisuuksissa hyvyyde-ss hyvyyksi-ss industry

hyvyys

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 neljs tuhannes

kolmanne-ssa kolmansi-ssa the third neljnne-ss tuhannennessa neljnsi-ss tuhannensissa the fourth the thousandth

mones tuhat

monenne-ssa tuhanne-ssa

monensi-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 marker i. This group does not include new loan words.

Nominative

Inessive sg

Inessive pl

Translation

vene laite koe avain sydn tytr sisar karvas kaunis paras kiuas varis ohut neitsyt svel askel askel

venee-ss laittee-ssa kokee-ssa avaime-ssa sydme-ssa tyttre-ss sisare-ssa karvaa-ssa kaunii-ssa parhaa-ssa kiukaa-ssa varikse-ssa ohue-ssa neitsye-ss svele-ss askele-ssa askelee-ssa

venei-ss laittei-ssa kokei-ssa avaimi-ssa sydmi-ss tyttri-ss sisari-ssa karvai-ssa kaunii-ssa parhai-ssa kiukai-ssa variksi-ssa ohui-ssa neitsyi-ss sveli-ss askeli-ssa askelei-ssa

boat device test key heart daughter sister bitter nice the best sauna heater crow thin virgin note, melody step 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 radar

stadioni-ssa radari-ssa

stadionei-ssa radarei-ssa

stadium 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 becoming the feet in the feet out of the feet on the feet from the feet onto the feet without the feet with the feet

Translative pl jaloiksi

Inessive pl Elative pl Adessive pl Ablative pl Allative pl Abessive pl

jaloissa jaloista jaloilla jaloilta jaloille jaloitta

Instructive pl jaloin

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 luuta ripa leuka jalka mansikka vr kahvi mki vesi kyky nalle aatto maa ehtoo suo neli

kovi-ssa luudi-ssa rivoi-ssa leuoi-ssa jaloi-ssa mansikoi-ssa vri-ss kahvei-ssa mi-ss vesi-ss kyvyi-ss nallei-ssa aatoi-ssa mai-ssa ehtoi-ssa soi-ssa nelii-ss

kovi-na luuti-na ripoi-na leukoi-na jalkoi-na

hard broom handle chin foot

mansikkoi-na strawberry vri-n kahvei-na mki-n vesi-n kykyi-n nallei-na aattoi-na mai-na ehtoi-na soi-na nelii-n wrong coffee hill water ability teddy bear eve country evening marsh 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 stronggrade 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 kauneus rakkaus teollisuus hyvyys

osuute-na kauneute-na rakkaute-na

osuuksi-na

share, part

kauneuksi-na beauty rakkauksi-na love

teollisuute-na teollisuuksi-na industry hyvyyte-n hyvyyksi-n 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 neljs tuhannes mones tuhat

kolmante-na neljnte-n

kolmansi-na neljnsi-n

the third the fourth

tuhannente-na tuhannensi-na the thousandth monente-na tuhante-na monensi-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 laite koe avain sydn tytr sisar karvas paras kiuas varis ohut neitsyt

venee-n laittee-na kokee-na avaime-na sydme-n tyttre-n sisare-na karvaa-na parhaa-na kiukaa-na varikse-na ohue-na neitsye-n

venei-n laittei-na kokei-na avaimi-na sydmi-n tyttri-n sisari-na karvai-na parhai-na kiukai-na variksi-na ohui-na neitsyi-n

boat device test key heart daughter sister bitter the best sauna heater crow thin 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 radar

stadioni-na radari-na

stadionei-na radarei-na

stadium 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 Genitive pl Partitive pl Essive pl Illative pl Comitative pl

jalka jalkojen jalkoja jalkoina jalkoihin jalkoineni

foot of the feet (some) feet as the feet into the feet 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, , or If a word ends in a single a, e, o, u, y, , or , 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

vstrkki

vstrkin

vstrkkien

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

jlsi

jllen

jlsien

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

jlsi

jllen

jltten

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 enkeleitten

angel

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 maitten

country

yn

iden itten

night

tie

tien

teiden teitten

way

neli

nelin

neliiden neliitten

square

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 veneitten

boat

koe

kokeen

kokeiden kokeitten

test

laite

laitteen

laitteiden laitteitten

device

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

seitsemn

seitsemn

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

seitsemn

seitsemn

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

seitsems

seitsemnnen

seitsemnsien

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 vieraitten

guest

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 stronggrade plural stem.
Nominative Genitive sg Genitive pl Translation

kevt

kevn

keviden kevitten

spring

ohut

ohuen

ohuiden ohuitten

thin

juossut

juosseen

juosseiden juosseitten

run

synyt

syneen

syneiden syneitten

eaten

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 radareitten

radar

stadion

stadionin

stadioneiden stadioneitten

stadium

Partitive

1 Case Endings
The essive ending is -a/- or -ta/-t 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/-t in the singular. Otherwise the ending is -a/-.

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/-t in the plural. Otherwise the ending is -a/-. 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

yt

it

night

tienoo

tienoota

tienoita

region

neli

nelit

neliit

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

kielt

kieli

language

vesi

vett

vesi

water

kansi

kantta

kansia

lid

jlsi

jltt

jlsi

cambium

virsi

virtt

virsi

hymn

yksi

yht

yksi

one

veitsi

veist

veitsi

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

seitsemn

seitsem

seitsemi

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

ient

ikeni

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

venett

veneit

boat

laite

laitetta

laitteita

device

koe

koetta

kokeita

test

karvas

karvasta

karvaita

bitter

vieras

vierasta

vieraita

guest

kevt

kevtt

kevit

spring

ohut

ohutta

ohuita

thin

synyt

synytt

syneit

eaten

Essive

1 Case Endings
The essive ending is -na/-n 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

veneen

venein

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/-ss 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

veneess

veneiss

boat

Elative

1 Case Endings
The elative ending is -sta/-st 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

veneest

veneist

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 stronggrade 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

reik

reikn

reikiin

hole

vesi

veteen

vesiin

water

kansi

kanteen

kansiin

lid

jlsi

jlteen

jlsiin

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 -V n 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

sil

siln

silihin

storage

neli

nelin

neliihin

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

phn

pihin

head

hai

haihin

haihin

shark

suo

suohon

soihin

marsh

tie

tiehen

teihin

road

ty

tyhn

tihin

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

svel

sveleen

sveliin

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

sydn

sydmeen

sydmiin

heart

hapan

happamaan

happamiin

bitter

lmmin

lmpimn

lmpimiin

warm

sisar

sisareen

sisariin

sister

tytr

tyttreen

tyttriin

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 (kannel)

kanteleeseen

kanteleisiin kanteleihin

kantele (an instrument)

kypene (kyven)

kypeneeseen

kypeneisiin kypeneihin

spark

pientare (piennar)

pientareeseen

pientareisiin pientareihin

edge, shoulder (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/-ll 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

veneell

veneill

boat

Ablative

1 Case Endings
The ablative ending is -lta/-lt 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

veneelt

veneilt

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/-tt 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

veneett

veneitt

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 / - / -ta / -t

-a / - / -ta / -t

Essive

-na / -n

-na / -n

Translative

-ksi

-ksi

Inessive

-ssa / -ss

-ssa / -ss

Elative

-sta / -st

-sta / -st

Illative

-n / -hn / -seen

-in / -hin / -siin

Adessive

-lla / -ll

-lla / -ll

Ablative

-lta / -lt

-lta / -lt

Allative

-lle

-lle

Abessive

-tta / -tt

-tta / -tt

Comitative

-ne

Instructive

-n

-n

Singular

Plural

Superessive

-alla / -ll

Delative

-alta / -lt

Sublative

-alle / -nne

Lative

-s

Temporal

-lloin / -llin

Causative

-ten

-ten

Multiplicative

-sti

Distributive

-ttain / -ttin

-ttain / -ttin

Temporal distributive

-sin

Prolative

-tse

-tse

Situative

-kkain / -kkin

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 enkeli enkelit English the angel 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 enkelin enkelien enkelein enkeleiden enkeleitten enkelten English the angel's the angels' the angels' the angels' the angels' 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 enkeli enkelin enkelit English the angel the angel 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/-/-ta/-t in both the singular

and in the plural. Finnish taloa taloja English (a part of) a house (some) houses

Essive
The essive expresses the state of something. It often corresponds to the preposition as. The essive suffix is -na/-n in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish talona taloina English as the house 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 taloksi taloiksi English becoming a house 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/-ss in both the singular and in the plural.

Finnish talossa taloissa

English in the house 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/stin both the singular and in the plural. Finnish talosta taloista English out of the house out of the houses

Illative
The illative expresses motion into something. It often corresponds to the prepositions in or into. The illative suffix is -hn, -seen or vowel lengthening +n in the singular and -hin or -siin in the plural. Finnish taloon taloihin English into the house 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/-ll in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish English

pydll pydill

on the table 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/lt in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish pydlt pydilt English from the table 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 pydlle pydille English onto the table 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/-tt in both the singular and in the plural. Finnish jalatta English 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 jalkoineen English 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 jalan jaloin English by foot 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/-ll in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish tll tuolla siell muualla toisaalla yhtll moniaalla kaikkialla English here over there there elsewhere elsewhere in one place in many places 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/-lt in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish tlt tuolta sielt muualta toisaalta yhtlt moniaalta kaikkialta English from here from over there from there from elsewhere from elsewhere on the other hand from one place from many places 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 minne jonne tnne tuonne sinne muualle muuanne toisaalle yhtlle moniaalle kaikkialle

English where to where (relative pronoun) here over there there elsewhere elsewhere elsewhere to one place to many places 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 alas yls taa luo ty taas edes lhemms kauemmas alemmas ylemms taemmas edemms rannemmas English down up behind to to again at least, even closer to further, farther away, farther off farther down higher up further back farther on, farther off 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/-llin in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish milloin jolloin tllin silloin tuolloin muulloin English when when (relative) at this time then at that time 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 joten siten tten miten kuten English so, thus, therefore thus, therefore hereby, thus how as, like

jotenkin kuitenkin kuitenkaan jotenkuten vhiten parhaiten nopeiten eniten kauiten useimmiten vanhemmiten

somehow anyway anyway (negative) somehow (the) least best fastest most longest mostly 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 pirusti leikisti kauniisti useasti monesti kolmesti pakosti English a damned lot not really beautifully many times many times three times, thrice by force

Distributive
The usage of the distributive is limited to a small number of nouns, adjectives and numerals. The distributive suffix is -ttain/-ttin in both the singular and in the plural. Singular forms are used very seldom. Finnish English paikoittain here and there suomalaisittainin a Finnish way yksittin one at a time ryhmittin 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 kesisin summers, in the summer talvisin winters, in the winter aikaisin early alkuisin originally lhtisin originally perisin 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 postitse maitse jitse meritse vesitse lentoteitse ohitse lvitse alitse ylitse English by mail by land across the ice by sea by water by plane over through under 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/-kkin in the singular. The plural forms are not used. Finnish nenkkin nokakkain siskkin vastakkain lhekkin vierekkin selkkin English nose to nose beak to beak inside each other, one inside the other against each other, opposite to each other near to each other, close together next to each other, side by side back to back