Editing Finnish grammar (section)

=====''-nen'' nouns=====
This is a very large class of words which includes common nouns (for example {{lang|fi|nainen}} 'woman'), many proper names, and many common adjectives. Adding {{lang|fi|-inen}} to a noun is a very productive mechanism for creating adjectives ({{lang|fi|lika}} 'dirt, filth' → {{lang|fi|likainen}} 'dirty'; {{lang|fi|ilo}} 'joy' → {{lang|fi|iloinen}} 'merry, happy'; {{lang|fi|muovi}} 'plastic' → {{lang|fi|muovinen}} 'made of plastic'/'plastic-like' ). It can also function as a diminutive ending.

The form behaves as if it ended in {{lang|fi|-s}}, with the exception of the nominative, where it is {{lang|fi|-nen}}. Thus, the stem for these words removes the {{lang|fi|-nen}} and adds {{lang|fi|-s(e)}} after which the inflectional ending is added:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Finnish !! English
|-
| {{lang|fi|muovise'''ssa''' pussi'''ssa'''}} || <nowiki>'</nowiki>'''in''' the plastic bag'
|-
| {{lang|fi|kaksi muovista lelua}} || 'two plastic toys'
|-
| {{lang|fi|muovise'''en''' laatikko'''on'''}} || <nowiki>'</nowiki>'''into''' the plastic box'
|}

Here are some of the diminutive forms that are in use:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Finnish !! Stemming from !! English
|-
| {{lang|fi|kätönen}} || {{lang|fi|käsi}} || 'a small hand' (affectionate)
|-
| {{lang|fi|lintunen}} || {{lang|fi|lintu}} || 'birdie', 'a small bird'
|-
| {{lang|fi|veikkonen}} || {{lang|fi|veikko}} || 'lad'
|-
| {{lang|fi|kirjanen}} || {{lang|fi|kirja}} || 'booklet'
|-
| {{lang|fi|kukkanen}} || {{lang|fi|kukka}} || 'a little flower'
|-
| {{lang|fi|lapsonen}} || {{lang|fi|lapsi}} || 'a little child'
|}

A special class of Finnish nouns in -nen are surnames. Some of these are very old and often their original meaning is not readily apparent to a modern speaker. Many were later coined on the -nen pattern and these often have the suffix added to a word meaning a natural feature. Some representative examples are:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Finnish !! From word !! English
|-
| {{lang|fi|Rautiainen}} || {{lang|fi|rautio}} || blacksmith (of a blacksmith's family)
|-
| {{lang|fi|Korhonen}} || {{lang|fi|korho}} || 'deaf' (of a deaf man's family)
|-
| {{lang|fi|Leinonen}} || {{lang|fi|leino}} || 'sorrowful, melancholic'; alternatively male name {{lang|fi|Leino}} as short for Leonard
|-
| {{lang|fi|Virtanen}}, {{lang|fi|Jokinen}}, {{lang|fi|Järvinen}}, {{lang|fi|Nieminen}}...
| {{lang|fi|virta}}, {{lang|fi|joki}}, {{lang|fi|järvi}}, {{lang|fi|niemi}}
| 'the family from by the stream ({{lang|fi|virta}}), river ({{lang|fi|joki}}), lake ({{lang|fi|järvi}}), peninsula ({{lang|fi|niemi}})'
|-
| {{lang|fi|Mikkonen}} || || [A family name assimilated from the name of the farmhouse, after the householder's name 'Mikko']
|-
| {{lang|fi|Martikainen}} || || possible origin {{lang|fi|Martikka}}, a South [[Karelian language|Karelian]] surname{{source?|date=December 2020}}
|-
| {{lang|fi|Lyytikäinen}} || || from {{lang|fi|Lyytikkä}}, originating to Germanic male name ''Lydecke''{{source?|date=December 2020}}
|}

The suffix {{lang|fi|-nen}} also occurs in place-names. Many place-names ending with {{lang|fi|-nen}} assume a plural form when inflected. For instance, the illative of {{lang|fi|[[Sörnäinen]]}} is {{lang|fi|Sörnäisiin}} instead of singular {{lang|fi|Sörnäiseen}}.