Adessive / Study Finnish

The Adessive (adessiivi) case is part of the external locative cases. It typically corresponds to the “at”, “on” or “around” prepositions in English, and usually refer to being “externally closeby or around something”. In Finnish it is indicated by the -lla/-llä suffix.

Concept

Including, but not limited to:

When something is at, near or around something.
When something is on top of something.
When referring to open spaces.
When describing possession.
When being or going by or with something.
When phrasing or expressing time.

Usage

When something is at, near or around something

If something has a close proximity to something else, such as being near or around it, add the -lla/-llä suffix.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when something is at, near or around something.
Word	Translation	Example	Example translated
Talo	House	Talolla, taloilla	Around the house(s)
Kaappi	Cupboard	Kaapilla, kaapeilla	Around the cupboard(s)
Laatikko	Box	Laatikolla, laatikoilla	Around the box(es)
Kauppa	Store	Kaupalla, kaupoilla	Around the store(s)
Auto	Car	Autolla, autoilla	Around the car(s)

When something is on top of something

Physically on top where both objects can be identified.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when something is on top of something.
Word	Translation
Lasi on pöydällä	The glass is on the table
Kirja on hyllyllä	The book is on the shelf
Kissa on tuolilla	The cat is on the chair

When referring to open spaces

Places that typically do not have a roof or cover over them.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when referring to open spaces.
Word	Translation
Kadulla	On/around the street
Kentällä	In/around the field
Pihalla	In/around the yard

When describing possession

When someone or something has something else.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when describing possession.
Word	Translation
Minulla on koira	I have a dog
Sinulla on auto	You have a car
Heillä on ruokaa	They have some food

When being or going by or with something

Usually to indicate physical or close proximity to something.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for being or going by or with something.
Word	Translation
Minä matkustan metrolla	I travel by/with the metro
Hän tulee pyörällä	He comes by bicycle
Kuuntelen musiikkia kuulokkeilla	I listen to music with headphones

When phrasing or expressing time

When identifying a general period of time something occurs the Adessive case is used.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when phrasing or expressing time.
Word	Translation
Päivällä	During the day
Viime viikolla	Last week
Huomenna illalla	Tomorrow evening

Formation

When words end in a single vowel

Words that end in a single vowel of -a/-ä, -o/-ö or -u/-y simply add the -lla/-llä suffix.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when conjugating Finnish words that end in a single vowel of -a/-ä, -o/-ö or -u/-y.
Word	Conjugation
Auto	Autolla
Pöytä	Pöydällä
Sänky	Sängyllä

New Finnish words

New Finnish words typically look or sound like words in other languages. They perhaps most commonly seem to resemble English words. These words simply add the -lla/-llä suffix.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when conjugating new Finnish words.
Word	Conjugation
Pankki	Pankilla
Bussi	Bussilla
Kahvi	Kahvilla

Old Finnish words

Old Finnish words that end in -i change to -e before adding the -lla/-llä suffix.

Table for the list of adessive locative case conjugation examples for when conjugating old Finnish words that end in -i.
Word	Conjugation
Suomi	Suomella
Järvi	Järvellä
Kivi	Kivellä