Eläkkeelle

Eläkkeelle is a Finnish phrase meaning "to retirement" or "into retirement." It is used to describe the transition from active work life to retirement and is most often found after verbs that denote movement into a new state, such as siirtyä ("to move"), päästä ("to reach/get to"), or tulla ("to become"). In ordinary prose, eläkkeelle is written in lowercase.

Grammar and usage: eläkkeelle functions as a complement after verbs of transition. Examples include: Hän siirtyi eläkkeelle viime vuonna. Hän tuli eläkkeelle, kun työsuhde päättyi. The form can be combined in related noun phrases, for instance eläkkeelle jääminen (“retirement,” the act of retiring) or eläkkeelle siirtyminen (“transition to retirement”). It is used to express entering the state of retirement rather than traveling to a physical location.

Related terms and context: eläke refers to a pension, while vanhuuseläke denotes an old-age pension. Other related expressions include varhennettu eläke (early retirement) and eläkkeelle siirtyminen (the act or process of moving into retirement). The usage of eläkkeelle often appears in biographical or journalistic contexts describing a person’s retirement from work or public office.

Cultural and social context: In Finland, retirement is tied to the pension system and labor market policies, with various pathways to retire, including standard old-age retirement and early retirement options. Discussions around eläkkeelle commonly address eligibility, pension amounts, and the timing of retirement, reflecting both individual choices and social safeguards.