Aiemmat

Aiemmin oraiemmat? aiemmat is a Finnish adjective in its plural nominative form meaning earlier, previous, or former. It is used to refer to items, statements, events, or periods that have already been mentioned or occurred relative to the present context. As a modifying word, aiemmat agrees with the noun it describes in number and case, and it appears frequently in formal and written Finnish.

In practice, aiemmat contrasts with terms such as nykyiset (the current) or tulevat (the future). It is common in academic texts, journalism, and reporting to signal reliance on prior material. Examples include aiemmat tutkimukset (earlier studies), aiemmat vastaukset (previous answers), and aiemman keskustelun konteksti (the context of the earlier discussion). The form also appears in compound phrases and in genitive cases, such as aiempien tutkimusten perusteella, where the meaning is “based on previous studies.”

Etymologically, aiemmat derives from the adjective aiempi, meaning earlier. The plural nominative aiemmat is the form used when referring to multiple items. Finnish adjectives inflect for number but not for gender, so aiemmat does not distinguish gender and is used with any plural noun it modifies. The word is widely understood across Finnish-speaking regions and is common in neutral, non-emphatic prose.

See also: aiempi, nykyinen, tuleva.