Henkilöluku

Henkilöluku is a Finnish grammatical term that refers to grammatical person. It indicates whether a verb or pronoun refers to the speaker (first person), the listener (second person), or someone or something else (third person). Finnish verbs are conjugated to agree with the person and number of the subject. For example, the first person singular subject "minä" (I) takes a different verb ending than the second person singular subject "sinä" (you).

In Finnish, there are distinct verb forms for each person and number. The first person singular is exemplified by "minä puhun" (I speak). The second person singular is "sinä puhut" (you speak). The third person singular is "hän puhuu" (he/she speaks). Finnish also distinguishes between plural forms: first person plural "me puhumme" (we speak), second person plural "te puhutte" (you speak), and third person plural "he puhuvat" (they speak).

Beyond verbs, pronouns also carry information about grammatical person. Personal pronouns like minä, sinä, hän, me, te, and he are fundamental to expressing these distinctions. The concept of henkilöluku is crucial for correct Finnish grammar, ensuring that sentences clearly identify who is performing an action or being described. While Finnish has fewer distinct pronoun forms than some other languages, the verb conjugations are highly systematic and directly reflect the person and number of the subject. Understanding henkilöluku is a key step in learning to speak and write Finnish accurately.