Alkaen

Alkaen is a Finnish postposition meaning "starting from" or "from." It is used to designate the lower bound of a range, such as prices, dates, or times. In Finnish grammar, alkaen is invariable and functions as a postposition, typically following the element it modifies and introducing the starting point of the range. It is widely used in advertising, schedules, and public notices to indicate a minimum value.

Common uses include prices, opening hours, and dates. For example, hinta alkaen 9,90 euroa means a price starting from 9.90 euros; hinnat alkaen klo 10 refers to opening hours from 10 o'clock; kurssit alkaen 1.11 indicates courses starting from November 1. The construction is especially frequent in commercial contexts, travel information, and event listings, where it helps present a clear lower bound without listing every option.

Etymology and language notes: alkaen is derived from the verb alkaa, “to begin.” As a postposition, it is used with nouns or time expressions to mark the starting point, and it does not take on inflections. Its usage is stylistically neutral, though more common in written and formal contexts such as websites, brochures, and notices.

See also: Finnish postpositions, Finnish grammar, pricing language.