Finnish Postpositions and Prepositions List
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 genetive 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.).
Finnish postpositions and prepositions
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 eg.
- 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.
