Genitiivisääntöinen

Genitiivisääntöinen is a Finnish grammatical term that describes a noun that follows specific rules when it appears in the genitive case. The genitive case in Finnish, similar to possessive cases in other languages, indicates possession, origin, or a relationship between entities. Nouns that are "genitiivisääntöinen" adhere to predictable patterns for forming their genitive singular and plural.

These patterns often involve changes to the noun's stem, such as vowel harmony, consonant gradation, or the addition of specific genitive endings. For example, many consonant-stemmed nouns undergo consonant gradation in the genitive. Nouns with certain vowel endings might also change their final vowel or add a specific suffix. Understanding which nouns fall into the "genitiivisääntöinen" category is crucial for correctly declining Finnish nouns.

While there are general rules, Finnish grammar also includes exceptions and irregular forms. However, the concept of genitiivisääntöinen highlights the systematic nature of genitive case formation for a large number of Finnish nouns. It is a fundamental aspect of Finnish morphology that learners encounter early in their studies.