The -hAn suffix

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This is a quite common suffix in Finnish. Its different uses aren't perhaps the most easy to learn, but in the end, this suffix mostly relays atmosphere or feeling, so it isn't the end of the world if you do not know at all times what is meant by it. Finns like to sprinkle it around here and there, but as long as you know just its most essential usages, you should be fine.

Whether the suffix is -han or -hän depends on vowel harmony.


Contents

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A) Attached to a verb in a question

When attached to a verb in a question, this suffix relays the meaning of "surely...?", or the ending "..., won't you?".

  • Otat tämän. (=You take this)
  • Otatko tämän? (=Do you take this?)
  • Otathan tämän? (=Surely you (will) take this? / You will take this, won't you?)


As you can see, the suffix can replace the -ko/-kö, and can make the sentence into a question. As with -ko/-kö, the word with the question-suffix comes first. Here are a few more examples:

1. Menethän kouluun tänään? (=Surely you will go to school today?/ You will go to school today, won't you?)
2. Onhan meillä aikaa? (=Surely we have time?/ We have time, don't we?)
3. Meneehän hän sinne? (Surely s/he will go there?/ S/he will go there, won't s/he?)


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B) Attached to a verb in a statement

When attached to a verb in a statement, this suffix more or less relays the meaning of "after all".

  • Sinä osaat. (=You know how to.)
  • Osaathan sinä! (=You know how to after all!)
  • Sinä et osaa. (=You don't know how to.)
  • Ethän sinä osaa! (=You don't know how to after all!)


As you can see, also in this construction the verb (with the suffix) comes before the subject. Note that in negative sentences, the suffix is attached to the "ei"-word, not the verb. Further examples:

1. Palasithan sinä lopulta! (=You returned in the end, after all!)
2. En ymmärrä miksi Taina oli vihainen. Olihan meillä lahja, ja ostimmehan me kukkiakin! (=I don't understand why Taina was angry. We had a present, after all, and we bought flowers, too, after all!)
3. Olisipa meillä ruokaa. Emmehän me puuta voi syödä! (=If only we had food. We can't eat wood, after all!)
4. Tiesinhän minä sen. (=I knew that, after all.)


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C) Attached after the -ko/-kö suffix

This suffix can also be attached after the -ko/-kö suffix. In this case the meaning becomes "I wonder...?" or "Wonder if...?":

  • Otatko tämän? (=Do you take this?)
  • Otatkohan tämän? (=I wonder if you will (/are going to) take this?)


The person who asks something using -han/-hän in this way, doesn't know what the other person will do, and they are almost doubtful (not always) it will go as they suggested. Usually one doesn't speak like this directly to another person. It's more like pondering about a third person.

1. Meneeköhän Leena kouluun? (=I wonder if Leena is going to school?)
2. Onkohan heillä kahvia? (=I wonder if they have coffee?)
3. Saatkohan rahaa? (=I wonder if you'll get (any) money?)


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D) Attached to question words

The meaning is also "I wonder...?" if this suffix is attached to question words. But this can be used in direct speech; in fact, it makes the query "softer", and more polite:

  • Kuka tuo on? (=Who is that?)
  • Kukahan tuo on? (=I wonder who that is?)

1. Mitähän saisi olla? (=I wonder what you'd like to have?)
2. Mikähän sinun nimesi on, tyttö? (=I wonder what your name is, girl?)
3. Kukahan söisi tämän omenan? (=I wonder who would eat this apple?)
4. Missähän sinä olet? (=I wonder where you are?)

NOTE: With all question words, a -ko/-kö can be added before the -han/-hän suffix, even if it serves no purpose: Kumpikohan? (I wonder which one of two?), Minneköhän? (I wonder where to?), Missäköhän? (I wonder where at?), Kukakohan? (I wonder who?). This is optional, but very common in spoken Finnish.


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E) Attached to commands

When this suffix is added to an instructive form of a verb, the meaning becomes "go ahead,..." or "..., why don't you". In other words, the suffix makes the command less sharp, and more encouraging.

  • Mene! (=Go!)
  • Menehän! (Go, why don't you!)

1. Menehän syömään! (Go ahead, go eat!)
2. Otahan omena! (Take an apple, won't you!)
3. Syöhän jo! (Go on, eat already!)
4. Annahan suola! (Why don't you go ahead and give me the salt!)


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F) Attached to pronouns and nouns

When this suffix is attached to nouns or personal pronouns, it can often be translated with the English "after all". It sort of makes the sentence more of an exclamation, or expresses surprise or frustration. It can also be used as a "softener", as in "I don't mean to imply you don't know this, but...".

After all:
1. En ymmärrä miksi olet surullinen. Sinähän olet rikas! (I don't understand why you are sad. You are, after all, rich!)
2. He etsivät laulajaa, ja minähän olen laulaja (=They are looking for a singer, and I am a singer, after all.)
3. Minä pidän hedelmistä, ja omenahan on hedelmä. (=I like fruit, and an apple is a fruit, after all.)
4. Onko sinulla käteistä? Luottokorttihan ei kelpaa täällä. (=Do you have cash? After all, a creditcard is no good here.)

Frustration:
1. "Mene jo!" "Minähän menen!" (="Go already!" "Can't you see I am going!?")
2. Mutta hänhän otti sen! (But he did take it after all, can't you see !?)
3. Ja minähän en mene!!! (=And I am (certainly) not going!!!)

Surprise:
1. Tuo kirjahan on hyvä! (=That book is good after all! (I didn't expect it to be))
2. Leenahan on jo siellä! (=Leena is there already! (I thought she wouldn't be))
3. Sinähän vapiset! (=Look at you, you are shaking!)



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