Plural Genitive

Level 3

The plural genitive is used to show that something belongs to multiple people or things. It is also required by most Finnish postpositions and necessity verbs.

How It Works

The plural genitive (monikon genetiivi) has several possible endings depending on the word type:

  • -jen: Used for 2-syllable words ending in -o, -u, -y, -ö (e.g., talo → talojen).
  • -ojen: Used for many 2-syllable words ending in -a where the final vowel changes to -o- (e.g., kissa → kissojen).
  • -ien: Used for 2-syllable words ending in -a if the first syllable contains o or u (e.g., koira → koirien), words ending in -ä (e.g., päivä → päivien), and words ending in -i where the final root vowel drops or merges with the plural marker -i- (e.g., järvi → järvien).
  • -iden / -itten: Used for words ending in long vowels, diphthongs, words ending in -e (e.g., perhe → perheiden, huone → huoneiden), or contracted words (e.g., maa → maiden). The endings -iden and -itten are parallel and interchangeable, though -iden is generally more common in standard written Finnish.
  • -ten: Attaches to the consonant stem of specific word types, especially those ending in -nen or certain consonant-stem words (e.g., nainen → naisten, lapsi → lasten).

Words with 3 or More Syllables:
Longer words (e.g., opettaja, henkilö, mansikka, paperi) often have multiple valid plural genitive forms. For example, mansikka can become mansikoiden, mansikkojen, or mansikoitten. Loanwords like paperi can take -en (paperien) or -eiden / -eitten (papereiden). It is a core feature of the plural genitive that these longer words accept multiple correct endings.

Key Rules & Shortcuts:
1. Consonant Gradation: For 2-syllable words, vowel stem forms (like -jen, -ien) use the strong grade (e.g., tyttö → tyttöjen). However, words with 3 or more syllables ending in -kka/-kkö or -kko/-kkö can take the weak grade if using the -iden/-itten ending (e.g., mansikka → mansikoiden) or retain the strong grade if using the -jen ending (e.g., mansikkojen). The -ten ending attaches to the consonant stem, which can be in the weak grade (e.g., hammas → hammasten).
2. The Partitive Shortcut: A highly useful trick to become confident with these endings is to look at the plural partitive. Words that take -ja/-jä in the plural partitive usually take -jen in the plural genitive (taloja → talojen). Words that take -ita/-itä take -iden (maita → maiden). Words that take -ia/-iä take -ien (koiria → koirien).
3. Plural Total Objects: Unlike the singular genitive, the plural genitive is NEVER used for total objects. Plural total objects always take the nominative plural (e.g., Ostin autot, not Ostin autojen).
4. Postpositions & Necessity: Postpositions (puiden takana) and necessity verbs (Lasten täytyy syödä) require the genitive.

Common -si Words
Learn uusi → uusien, vuosi → vuosien, vesi → vesien, and käsi → käsien. The plural vowel stem differs from singular genitives such as veden and käden. These words also have established consonant-stem alternatives in -ten, including uusten, vuotten, vetten, kätten; their frequency and style vary. For a neutral beginner form, the familiar -sien series is useful.

Examples (4)

  1. Naisten vaatteet ovat toisessa kerroksessa.

    The women's clothes are on the second floor.

    Word by Word: Women's clothes are second-in floor-in.

    'Naisten' is the plural genitive of 'nainen' (woman), showing possession.

  2. Auto on noiden talojen takana.

    The car is behind those houses.

    Word by Word: Car is those-of houses-of behind.

    The postposition 'takana' requires the genitive case. Here, both the demonstrative and the noun are in the plural genitive.

  3. Opiskelijoiden täytyy palauttaa tehtävät huomenna.

    The students must return the assignments tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Students-of must return tasks tomorrow.

    The verb 'täytyy' requires the subject to be in the genitive case.

  4. Lintujen laulu kuuluu metsästä.

    The birds' singing can be heard from the forest.

    Word by Word: Birds-of singing is-heard forest-from.

    'Lintujen' is the plural genitive of 'lintu' (bird).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the weak grade for vowel stem endings.

    tytöjen
    tyttöjen

    For vowel stem endings like -jen, the plural genitive uses the strong grade of the stem. Learners often mistakenly apply weak gradation (like in the singular genitive 'tytön'), resulting in 'tytöjen' instead of the correct 'tyttöjen'.

  • Using the plural genitive for plural total objects.

    Ostin autojen.
    Ostin autot.

    While singular total objects often take the singular genitive, plural total objects NEVER take the plural genitive. They must be in the nominative plural.

  • Confusing the plural genitive with the plural partitive.

    Ostin talojen.
    Ostin taloja.

    The plural genitive is for possession or postpositions. For a partial object (buying some houses), you must use the plural partitive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Plural GenitiveLevel 3

Learn This First

To learn the plural genitive, you first need to understand how the basic genitive works for possession. You must also be familiar with how plural stems are formed using the -i- marker and how different noun types (stems) behave, as this determines which of the several plural genitive endings is used.

Words in This Pattern

-en