The -pA suffix

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This clitic has many uses, several of which are rather abstract and add nuance instead of any concrete change in meaning. The -pA suffix is subject to vowel harmony, which means that the capital letters 'A' is replaced with either 'a' or 'ä', as appropriate. As a general rule, just like with -kO and -hAn, the word with the suffix comes first.


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1) Attached to a command


When attached to a command, the suffix softens the command. You can, however, still make the command stern or impatient with your tone of voice. In that case the usage of -pA has a slightly sarcastic tone.

  • Tule tänne! (Come here!)
  • Tulepa tänne! (Come here a little! / Come here, won't you!)


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2) Attached to a conjugated verb


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2A) According to person


When attached to a verb conjugated according to person, the suffix expresses marvel/surprise (negative or positive) at the action.

  • Hän ajaa lujaa. (He drives fast.)
  • Ajaapa hän lujaa! (Well, doesn't he drive fast!)
1. Olemmepa (me) myöhässä! (Boy, are we late!)
2. Onpa täällä paljon kukkia! (Wow, how many flowers there are here!)


One can also attach the suffix to the "emphasis-word" 'kyllä', to convey the same meaning. Note how the word order after 'kylläpä' goes back to "normal".

1. Kylläpä hän ajaa lujaa!
2. Kylläpä me olemme myöhässä!
3. Kylläpä täällä on paljon kukkia!
4. Kylläpä vihaan tätä suffiksia!


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2B) Negative


The suffix can also be used in the negative counterparts of these sentences. Then the verb often goes last in the sentence (though not always!). The meaning can be one of two. Either marvel/surprise/contempt:

1. Ettepä te paljon rahaa lahjoittaneet. (Well, you sure didn't donate much money.)
2. Etpä sinä useinkaan siivoa. (You sure don't clean very often.)


Otherwise, it's more an expression of calm and indifference at the issue. The below sentences would mean almost the same without the suffix. The suffix adds the tone that's in the brackets.

  • Hän ei aja lujaa. (He doesn't drive fast.)
  • Eipä hän lujaa aja. (He's not driving fast (and who cares anyway)).
1. Emmepä me myöhässä ole. - We're not late ((and there's nothing much to it)) [col.: Eipä me myöhässä olla.]
2. Eipä täällä juuri kasveja ole. - There aren't many plants here (and that's just how it is).
3. Minä unohdin tuoda kirjasi. - I forgot to bring your book.
-Eipä sillä väliä. - It doesn't matter.


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2C) Accompanied by -kin


When attached to a verb conjugated in person, and accompanied by a -kin suffix, the meaning is not marvel/surprise. It's more like "...you know". This works the same even without the -pA suffix, as the main point is the word order (verb first), not the suffix. The suffix just makes it a bit more casual.

1. Ottaapa hän Maijankin mukaan. - He takes Maija with him too, you know.
2. Söinpä minä voileivänkin. - I ate a sandwitch, too, you know.
3. Olivatpa he töissäkin vähän aikaa. - They worked for a while, too, you know.


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3) Attached to infinitives and conditionals


When attached to a verb in infinitive OR in conditional, the suffix means "if only". With an infinitive, it conveys a personal wish, and in conditional, it conveys a general wish.

1. Ollapa rikas. - If only one would be rich.
2. Päästäpä Italiaan. - If only one would get to (go to) Italy.
3. Tulisipa huomenna sadetta. - If only there would be rain tomorrow.
4. Olisipa maailma oikeudenmukainen. - If only the world would be just.


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4) Attached to nouns, pronouns, adjectives


When attached to nouns, pronouns or adjectives, the suffix has a very different meaning. It is used to emphasise a contrast.

Maija: Minä menen. (I'm going)
Matti: Minäpä en! (Well I am not!)
Maija: Talo on sininen. (The house is blue)
Matti: Keltainenpa! (No, it is yellow!)
Maija: Petri maalasi taulun. (Petri painted a painting.)
Matti: Annikapa maalasi talon! (Annika, however, painted a house!)


Even here, though, the suffix can also express mild surprise.

1. Tämäpä on hyvää! - Well, this sure is good!
2. Hänpä ajaa lujaa! - Well, doesn't he drive fast!


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5) Attached to various little words


The suffix can also be attached to many little words. The meaning hardly changes at all then, the suffix just makes it more casual/friendly. It is therefore not necessary to use -pA, but in everyday language it is very common. Here are a few examples:

1. Vaikka --> vaikkapa
Kuinka monta haluat?
-Vaikkapa kolme.
2. Tuskin --> tuskinpa
Tuskinpa hän enää tulee.
3. Kai --> kaipa
Kaipa me löydämme sen.
4. Niin --> niinpä
Tuossahan on kissa!
-Niinpä on!


In some rare cases the suffix can also be a "permanent" part at the end of some words. In other words, there may be no suffixless version, or the meaning without the suffix changes drastically so that they seem like totally separate words. For example:

Siis / siispä
Tokkopa


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6) In anwers to questions


Adding the suffix to answers to questions is also common. It makes the answer more casual/friendly.


1. Otitko sinä karkin? (Did you take a candy?)
-Otinpa, joo. (I did, yeah.)
2. Veisitkö roskat? (Would you take out the garbage?)
-Juuripa vein. (I just did.)
3. Etkö halua mennä elokuviin? (Don't you want to go to the movies?)
-Enpä oikeastaan. (Not really.)
4. Ettekö tulleet ajatelleeksi sitä? (Didn't that occur to you?)
-Emmepä tulleet. (It didn't, no.)


One can answer a question or comment by repeating the one-word answer (a word that was mentioned in the question) twice and adding the suffix to the first one. The meaning is sort of "indeed".

1. Oletko vielä Ranskassa?
-Vieläpä vielä (Still, indeed)
2. Yölläkö te läditte?
-Yölläpä yöllä.
3. Ranskassa ei ole enää monarkiaa.
-Eipä (ole) ei.
4. Tämäkö se on?
-Tämäpä tämä.


Languages >> Finnish >> Finnish grammar >> Finnish suffixes

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