Erilailla

Erilailla is a Finnish adverb meaning “in different ways” or “in various manners.” It conveys the idea that something can be done or understood through multiple approaches. The word is most often encountered in constructions that specify the manner of action, such as erilailla tavoilla or erilaisten keinojen avulla. In everyday language, speakers frequently use more explicit formulations like eri tavoin or erilaisilla tavoilla; the bare form erilailla is thus relatively infrequent and tends to appear mainly in fixed expressions or older texts.

Etymology and form: erilailla is typically described as derived from the adjective erilainen (different) with the adessive -lla, forming an adverbial meaning. Because Finnish adverbs related to manner are often tied to the accompanying noun (for example, erilaisilla tavoilla), erilailla itself frequently occurs as part of a larger phrase rather than as a freely standing adverb.

Usage notes: When you want to express that there are multiple methods or approaches, preferred alternatives are eri tavoin, erilaisilla tavoilla, or erilaisten keinojen avulla. Erilailla can appear in literary or historical texts and may carry a slightly more formal or traditional nuance compared to the more common expressions. In contemporary formal writing, editors and style guides often recommend the more portable phrases to avoid ambiguity.

See also: Finnish language, Adverbs in Finnish, Erilainen, Tapa, Tavoin.