-iainen

-iäinen iäinen Finnish Etymology fi -ja inen. The suffix is spelled inconsistently as either fi -iainen or fi -jainen depending on the root word. Details fi -jainen is the original form of the suffix, while the former contains a preceding -i- (including those that derive from an underlying -e-), with the -j- not spelled as a result. In the past, a similar kind of vacillation occurred in the spelling of fi -ja derivatives, although they eventually settled into a spelling in which the -j- was always spelled (fi tulija, pro fi tulia). However, that development did not extend to this suffix, as its origin had by then been forgotten. A regular derivative of many verbs would have a long vowel, as it is part of the stem; thus, fi avajaiset should more correctly be fi *avaajaiset. The shortening may be by analogy. The use of the suffix in diminutive, often vulgar, nouns, such as those for insects, appears to follow the example of fi ampiainen, fi tuuliainen, but fi -ias may have also served as an inspiration. Suffix noun iäinen iaise Forms certain nouns. fi tulla to come tuliainen souvenir fi in the plural Forms names of ceremonies from verbs or nouns. fi avata to open avajaiset opening fi haudata to bury hautajaiset funeral fi fuksi university freshman fuksiaiset initiation ritual event in a university Forms certain nouns, particularly vulgar nouns or names of insects. fi paska shit paskiainen bastard, asshole fi muta mud mutiainen dark-skinned person fi kuori crust kuoriainen beetle fi ripsi cilium -iäinen ripsiäinen thrips Declension -iai a Derived terms fi References