Finnish Postpositions and Prepositions List
July 8, 2020
August 31, 2024
This Finnish postpositions and prepositions list is meant to show you words that can be used in post- or prepositional phrases. The idea of Finnish postpositions and prepositions (adpositions) is that they express how/where something is in relation to something else – their relative location.
Meaning of Postpositions and Prepositions
Finnish postpositions and prepositions can indicate relative location, time, cause, consequence or relation. Below, you can find the ways I’ve marked these adpositions in the table.
- Static location: these words express that the subject is in a fixed position relative to the main word (missä)
- Motion towards: these words express that the subject is moving towards a relative location (mihin)
- Motion away: these words express that the subject is moving away from a relative location (mistä)
- Motion along: these words express a motion past something the main word (→○→)
- Cause or consequence: express the reason or result of the main word
- Time: these words express a relative point of time or timespan relative to the main word
- People: these words express the relation between people, either spacial or abstract
- Abstract relation: these words express an abstract relation between things
- Addition or lack: these words express adding or remove something
How to Use this List
This list allows you to more dynamically get a look at postpositions and prepositions. Ways in which you could use it:
- Alphabetically: Shows you similar-looking adverbs and how they differ from one another in construction and meaning.
- By construction: Shows you which words come with the partitive or genitive case and whether they’re placed before or after the main word.
- By translation: Shows you the English translations, allowing you to see which words are similar in English and how they differ.
- By category: Shows you what type of relation these words express (time, location, motion, etc.).
New wpDataTable
| Word | Constr | Translation | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| aikaan | GEN + X | around | time |
| aikana | GEN + X | during | time |
| alapuolella | GEN + X | below, beneath | static location (missä) |
| alapuolelle | GEN + X | below, beneath | motion towards (mihin) |
| alapuolelta | GEN + X | below, beneath | motion away (mistä) |
| alas | PART + X | down, downwards | motion along →○→ |
| alas | X + PART | down, downwards | motion along →○→ |
| ali; alitse | GEN + X | underneath | motion along →○→ |
| alkuun | GEN + X | at the beginning (to) | time |
| alla | GEN + X | underneath, under | static location (missä) |
| alle | GEN + X | underneath, under | motion towards (mihin) |
| aloitteesta | GEN + X | at the initiative of | people |
| alta | GEN + X | underneath, under | motion away (mistä) |
| alussa | GEN + X | at the beginning | time |
| alusta | GEN + X | at the beginning (from) | time |
| ansiosta | GEN + X | thanks to | cause or consequence |
| asemesta | GEN + X | instead of, in place of | abstract relation |
| avulla | GEN + X | with the help | abstract relation |
| edelle | GEN + X | ahead of | motion towards (mihin) |
| edellä | GEN + X | ahead of | static location (missä) |
| edeltä | GEN + X | ahead of | motion away (mistä) |
| edessä | GEN + X | in front of (building) | static location (missä) |
| edestä | GEN + X | in front of | motion away (mistä) |
| edestä | GEN + X | on behalf of | abstract relation |
| eduksi | GEN + X | in favor, to the advantage | cause or consequence |
| edustalla | GEN + X | in front of (building) | static location (missä) |
| ennen | X + PART | before | time |
| eteen | GEN + X | in front of | motion towards (mihin) |
| halki | GEN + X | through, across | motion along →○→ |
| halki | X + GEN | through, across | motion along →○→ |
| halki | X + GEN | through, across | time |
| hyväksi | GEN + X | for the good of | cause or consequence |
| hännille | GEN + X | at the tail end of | motion towards (mihin) |
| hännillä | GEN + X | at the tail end of | static location (missä) |
| hänniltä | GEN + X | at the tail end of | motion away (mistä) |
| ilman | X + PART | without | addition or lack |
| johdosta | GEN + X | because of, for | cause or consequence |
| joukkoon | GEN + X | into the mix | addition or lack |
| joukossa | GEN + X | among | people |
| juurella | GEN + X | at the root | cause or consequence |
| jäljessä | GEN + X | after, close behind | static location (missä) |
| jälkeen | GEN + X | after | time |
| kannalta | GEN + X | point of view (from) | abstract relation |
| kanssa | GEN + X | with | addition or lack |
| kautta | GEN + X | through | abstract relation |
| kautta | X + GEN | throughout | time |
| kautta | GEN + X | via, by | motion along →○→ |
| kera | GEN + X | with (food) | addition or lack |
| keskelle | GEN + X | in the middle of | motion towards (mihin) |
| keskelle | X + PART | in the middle of | motion towards (mihin) |
| keskellä | GEN + X | in the middle of | static location (missä) |
| keskellä | X + PART | in the middle of | static location (missä) |
| keskellä | X + PART | in the middle of | time |
| keskeltä | GEN + X | in the middle of | motion away (mistä) |
| keskeltä | X + PART | in the middle of | motion away (mistä) |
| kesken | GEN + X | between, among | people |
| kesken | X + PART | in the middle of (interrupt) | time |
| keskuudessa | GEN + X | among | people |
| keskuudesta | GEN + X | among | people |
| keskuuteen | GEN + X | among | people |
| kimppuun | GEN + X | attacking, at | motion towards (mihin) |
| kimpussa | GEN + X | attacking, at | static location (missä) |
| kimpusta | GEN + X | attacking, at | motion away (mistä) |
| kohdalla | GEN + X | for, in the case of | abstract relation |
| kohdalla | GEN + X | near, at a place | static location (missä) |
| kohdalle | GEN + X | near, at a place | motion towards (mihin) |
| kohdalta | GEN + X | near, at a place | motion away (mistä) |
| kohtaan | PART + X | towards, for | people |
| kohti | X + PART | towards, for | motion towards (mihin) |
| kohti; kohden | PART + X | per, each | people |
| kohti; kohden | PART + X | towards, for | motion towards (mihin) |
| kuluessa | GEN + X | within (a timespan) | time |
| kuluttua | GEN + X | from now, after (a timespan) | time |
| kyljessä | GEN + X | beside | static location (missä) |
| kyljestä | GEN + X | beside | motion away (mistä) |
| kylkeen | GEN + X | beside | motion towards (mihin) |
| liepeille | GEN + X | somewhere around | motion towards (mihin) |
| liepeillä | GEN + X | somewhere around | static location (missä) |
| liepeillä | GEN + X | somewhere around | time |
| liepeiltä | GEN + X | somewhere around | motion away (mistä) |
| likellä | GEN + X | near, close | static location (missä) |
| likellä | X + PART | near, close | static location (missä) |
| lisäksi | GEN + X | in addition to, also | addition or lack |
| lomaan | GEN + X | between, among | motion towards (mihin) |
| lomassa | GEN + X | between, among | static location (missä) |
| lomasta | GEN + X | between, among | motion away (mistä) |
| lopulla | GEN + X | near the end | time |
| lopussa | GEN + X | at the end | time |
| luo; luokse | GEN + X | at somebody's place | motion towards (mihin) |
| luona | GEN + X | at somebody's place | static location (missä) |
| luota | GEN + X | at somebody's place | motion away (mistä) |
| läheisyydessä | GEN + X | near, in the vicinity | static location (missä) |
| lähelle | GEN + X | near, close | motion towards (mihin) |
| lähelle | X + PART | near, close | motion towards (mihin) |
| lähellä | GEN + X | near, close | static location (missä) |
| lähellä | X + PART | near, close | static location (missä) |
| läheltä | GEN + X | near, close | motion away (mistä) |
| läheltä | X + PART | near, close | motion away (mistä) |
| lähistöllä | GEN + X | near, in the vicinity | static location (missä) |
| läpi; lävitse | GEN + X | through, across | motion along →○→ |
| läpi; lävitse | STA + X | through, across | motion along →○→ |
| läpi; lävitse | X + GEN | through, across | motion along →○→ |
| maissa | GEN + X | around (approximately) | time |
| mielestä | GEN + X | in the opinion of | people |
| mittaan | GEN + X | over the course of | time |
| mukaan | GEN + X | according to | people |
| mukaan | GEN + X | along with | people |
| mukana | GEN + X | along with | people |
| myöten | PART + X | along, following | motion along →○→ |
| myötä | GEN + X | along with | addition or lack |
| nojalla | GEN + X | based on, on grounds of | cause or consequence |
| oheen | GEN + X | along(side), while | addition or lack |
| ohella | GEN + X | along(side), while | addition or lack |
| ohessa | GEN + X | along(side), while | addition or lack |
| ohi; ohitse | GEN + X | past | motion along →○→ |
| oikealla | GEN + X | on the right (side) | static location (missä) |
| oikealle | GEN + X | on the right (side) | motion towards (mihin) |
| oikealta | GEN + X | on the right (side) | motion away (mistä) |
| osalta | GEN + X | in regards, concerning | abstract relation |
| paikkeilla | GEN + X | around, about | static location (missä) |
| paikkeilla | GEN + X | around, about | time |
| parissa | GEN + X | among, with | people |
| perusteella | GEN + X | based on | cause or consequence |
| perässä | GEN + X | after (following) | static location (missä) |
| perästä | GEN + X | after | time |
| perästä | GEN + X | after (following) | motion away (mistä) |
| perään | GEN + X | after (following) | motion towards (mihin) |
| pitkin | PART + X | along | motion along →○→ |
| pitkin | X + PART | along | motion along →○→ |
| pitkin | X + PART | throughout (a timespan) | time |
| pohjalta | GEN + X | on the basis of | abstract relation |
| poikki | GEN + X | across, through | motion along →○→ |
| puoleen | GEN + X | towards | motion towards (mihin) |
| puolella | GEN + X | on the side of | people |
| puolelle | GEN + X | on the side of | motion towards (mihin) |
| puolelta | GEN + X | on the side of | motion away (mistä) |
| puolesta | GEN + X | on behalf of, in favor of | people |
| puoliväliin | GEN + X | halfway | motion towards (mihin) |
| puoliväliin | GEN + X | halfway | time |
| puolivälissä | GEN + X | halfway | static location (missä) |
| puolivälissä | GEN + X | halfway | time |
| puolivälistä | GEN + X | halfway | motion away (mistä) |
| puolivälistä | GEN + X | halfway | time |
| päähän | GEN + X | at a distance of | motion towards (mihin) |
| päälle | GEN + X | on top of | motion towards (mihin) |
| päällä | GEN + X | on top of | static location (missä) |
| päältä | GEN + X | on top of | motion away (mistä) |
| päässä | GEN + X | at a distance of | static location (missä) |
| päästä | GEN + X | after (a timespan) | time |
| päästä | GEN + X | at a distance of | motion away (mistä) |
| rinnalla | GEN + X | beside, next to (missä) | people |
| rinnalle | GEN + X | beside, next to (mihin) | people |
| rinnalta | GEN + X | beside, next to (mistä) | people |
| seassa | GEN + X | among, mixed in | static location (missä) |
| seasta | GEN + X | among, mixed in | motion away (mistä) |
| sekaan | GEN + X | into the mix | motion towards (mihin) |
| seurauksena | GEN + X | as a consequence | cause or consequence |
| sijasta | GEN + X | instead of, in place of | abstract relation |
| sisälle | GEN + X | in(side) | motion towards (mihin) |
| sisällä | GEN + X | in (a timespan) | time |
| sisällä | GEN + X | in(side) | static location (missä) |
| sisältä | GEN + X | in(side) | motion away (mistä) |
| sisäpuolella | GEN + X | inside of (on the) | static location (missä) |
| sisäpuolelle | GEN + X | inside of (on the) | motion towards (mihin) |
| sisäpuolelta | GEN + X | inside of (on the) | motion away (mistä) |
| sisässä | GEN + X | in(side) | static location (missä) |
| sisästä | GEN + X | in(side) | motion away (mistä) |
| sisään | GEN + X | in(side) | motion towards (mihin) |
| suhteen | GEN + X | regarding, in regards to | abstract relation |
| syliin | GEN + X | on the lap; in the arms | motion towards (mihin) |
| sylissä | GEN + X | on the lap; in the arms | static location (missä) |
| sylistä | GEN + X | on the lap; in the arms | motion away (mistä) |
| taakse | GEN + X | behind | motion towards (mihin) |
| takaa | GEN + X | behind | motion away (mistä) |
| takana | GEN + X | behind | static location (missä) |
| takia | GEN + X | because of, due to | cause or consequence |
| tielle | GEN + X | in the way | motion towards (mihin) |
| tiellä | GEN + X | in the way | static location (missä) |
| tieltä | GEN + X | in the way | motion away (mistä) |
| tienoilla | GEN + X | around, about (approx.) | static location (missä) |
| tienoilla | GEN + X | around, about (approx.) | time |
| toimesta | GEN + X | by, at the hands of | cause or consequence |
| tykönä | GEN + X | at somebody's place | people |
| tähden | GEN + X | for the sake of | cause or consequence |
| ulkopuolella | GEN + X | on the outside of | static location (missä) |
| ulkopuolelle | GEN + X | on the outside of | motion towards (mihin) |
| ulkopuolelta | GEN + X | on the outside of | motion away (mistä) |
| ulottuvilla | GEN + X | near, within arm's reach | static location (missä) |
| vailla / vaille | PART + X | before, to, prior to | time |
| vailla / vaille | PART + X | without, lacking | addition or lack |
| vailla / vaille | X + PART | without, lacking | addition or lack |
| varalta | GEN + X | just in case | cause or consequence |
| varassa | GEN + X | dependent on | abstract relation |
| varjolla | GEN + X | under guise of | cause or consequence |
| varrella | GEN + X | along, alongside (larger area) | static location (missä) |
| varrella | GEN + X | over (a timespan) | time |
| varrelle | GEN + X | along, alongside (larger area) | motion towards (mihin) |
| varrelta | GEN + X | along, alongside (larger area) | motion away (mistä) |
| varressa | GEN + X | along, alongside (small area) | static location (missä) |
| varresta | GEN + X | along, alongside (small area) | motion away (mistä) |
| varteen | GEN + X | along, alongside (small area) | motion towards (mihin) |
| varten | PART + X | for, meant for | cause or consequence |
| vasemmalla | GEN + X | on the left (side) | static location (missä) |
| vasemmalle | GEN + X | on the left (side) | motion towards (mihin) |
| vasemmalta | GEN + X | on the left (side) | motion away (mistä) |
| vastaan | PART + X | against, opposing | people |
| vastaan | PART + X | towards, approaching | people |
| vastapäätä | PART + X | across, vis-à-vis | static location (missä) |
| vasten | PART + X | against, opposing | people |
| vasten | PART + X | against, opposite of | static location (missä) |
| vastoin | X + PART | against, opposing | abstract relation |
| verran | GEN + X | around, about (approx.) | abstract relation |
| viereen | GEN + X | next to (precise) | motion towards (mihin) |
| vierelle | GEN + X | next to (imprecise) | motion towards (mihin) |
| vierellä | GEN + X | next to (precise) | static location (missä) |
| vierellä | GEN + X | supporting, beside | people |
| viereltä | GEN + X | next to (imprecise) | motion away (mistä) |
| vieressä | GEN + X | next to (precise) | static location (missä) |
| vierestä | GEN + X | next to (imprecise) | motion away (mistä) |
| vieritse | GEN + X | past | motion along →○→ |
| vuoksi | GEN + X | because of, due to | cause or consequence |
| väliin | GEN + X | between x and y (small area) | motion towards (mihin) |
| välille | GEN + X | between x and y (larger area) | motion towards (mihin) |
| välillä | GEN + X | between x and y | time |
| välillä | GEN + X | between x and y (larger area) | static location (missä) |
| väliltä | GEN + X | between x and y (larger area) | motion away (mistä) |
| välissä | GEN + X | between x and y (small area) | static location (missä) |
| välistä | GEN + X | between x and y (small area) | motion away (mistä) |
| välityksellä | GEN + X | through, over | abstract relation |
| yhteydessä | GEN + X | related to, connected to | abstract relation |
| yli; ylitse | GEN + X | over | motion along →○→ |
| yllä | GEN + X | above, over | static location (missä) |
| yläpuolella | GEN + X | above (hanging, hovering) | static location (missä) |
| yläpuolelle | GEN + X | above (hanging, hovering) | motion towards (mihin) |
| yläpuolelta | GEN + X | above (hanging, hovering) | motion away (mistä) |
| ylös | PART + X | up, upwards | motion along →○→ |
| ylös | X + PART | up, upwards | motion along →○→ |
| ympäri | X + PART | all over, everywhere | static location (missä) |
| ympäri | GEN + X | around (a time period) | time |
| ympäri | X + GEN | around (a time period) | time |
| ympäri | GEN + X | around (circling) | motion along →○→ |
| ympäri | X + GEN | around (circling) | motion along →○→ |
| ympärille | GEN + X | around | motion towards (mihin) |
| ympärillä | GEN + X | around | static location (missä) |
| ympäriltä | GEN + X | around | motion away (mistä) |
| ääreen | GEN + X | at (table, computer) | motion towards (mihin) |
| äärelle | GEN + X | at (immediate vicinity) | motion towards (mihin) |
| äärellä | GEN + X | at (immediate vicinity) | static location (missä) |
| ääreltä | GEN + X | at (immediate vicinity) | motion away (mistä) |
| ääressä | GEN + X | at (table, computer) | static location (missä) |
| äärestä | GEN + X | at (table, computer) | motion away (mistä) |
Other Articles
- Finnish postpositions – Explanation and overview
- Finnish prepositions- Explanations and overview
- COMING SOON(ish): I will be writing a bunch of articles going over the difference between e.g.
- yllä, ylle, yltä, yläpuolella, yläpuolelta, ylhäällä, yli, etc
- keskellä, keskeltä, keskelle, kesken, keskuudessa, etc.
Some Notes and Remarks
While making this list I many times hit obstacles that required me to figure out what type of words I wanted to include. One such obstacle is that some of these postpositions can also appear on their own as adverbs. For example,
- ENNEN
- Hän tuli [ennen minua]. “He came before me” – preposition
- Elämä oli [ennen] erilaista. “Life was different earlier/before” – adverb
- LOPUSSA
- Ymmärsin juonen vasta [kirjan lopussa]. “I only understood the plot at the end of the book – postposition
- Vessapaperi on [lopussa]. “The toilet paper is almost up” – adverb
- ALAS
- Hän tuli portaita alas. “He came down the stairs” – postposition
- Hän tuli alas. “He came down” – adverb
Read More Elsewhere
- Virittäjä: Adpositiot suomen kieliopeissa 1600-luvulta 1800-luvun loppuun
- VISK: Articiples related to adpositiot
- Book: Aarni Penttilä – Suomen kielioppi, pages 337-343 (long list in Finnish)
- Book: Fred Karlsson – Finnish, A comprehensive grammar, pages 398-406
- Book: Jukka K. Korpela – Handbook of Finnish, section 173
That’s all for Finnish postpositions and prepositions for now! I hope you find this list useful. More related articles will be linked here as I publish them.
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