äidille

äidille is the allative form of the Finnish noun äiti, meaning “to mother” or “to mom.” It is used to indicate the recipient of an action or the direction toward a person, typically in sentences that involve giving, writing, visiting, or moving toward one’s mother. As part of Finnish nominal cases, äidille shows who the action is directed at.

Formation and grammar: The base word is äiti (mother). The allative suffix -lle attaches to the nominative stem, producing äidille. The form is used without a possessive when the context clearly refers to the mother in general; with a specific or personal reference, possessive forms such as äidilleni (to my mother) can be used for clarity, as in addressing or visiting one’s own mother.

Usage in context: äidille marks the recipient of an action, not the subject. Common verbs that take this form include antaa (to give), kirjoittaa (to write), lähettää (to send), and vierailla (to visit). Examples: “Lähetin kirjeen äidille.” (I sent a letter to my mother.) “Menen äidilleni.” (I’m going to my mother’s [place].) “Tämä on lahja äidille.” (This is a gift for mother.)

Context and nuance: While äidille often translates as “to mom,” it also serves broader purposes in indicating direction toward a person in social or familial contexts. In timing-sensitive phrases like Mother’s Day, the form may appear in expressions or packaging to denote a gift intended for mothers in general.

See also: Finnish grammar, allative case, dative-like constructions in Finnic languages.