Iltaisin

Iltaisin is a Finnish adverb meaning “in the evenings” or “during the evening hours.” It denotes a recurring or habitual time frame rather than a single occurrence, describing actions that take place in the evenings over a period of time. The form is derived from the noun ilta (evening) with the adverbial suffix -isin.

Usage and nuance: Iltaisin is used to express routines or actions that happen regularly after the workday or during the later part of the day. It often implies a pattern across many evenings, rather than a specific evening. This contrasts with illalla, which can refer to a particular evening or a moment in the evening and may be less focused on repetition. It can be used in both spoken Finnish and formal writing.

Grammar and placement: As an adverb, iltaisin normally appears without altering the surrounding sentence structure. It can modify verbs directly, as in Luen iltaisin or Hän käy iltaisin ulkona.

Examples:

- Luen iltaisin ennen nukkumaanmenoa.

- Hän harjoittelee iltaisin kolme kertaa viikossa.

Related terms: illalla (in the evening, at the moment or a specific evening), päivisin (during the day), öisin (at night), aamulla (in the morning). Iltaisin is commonly used to describe routines or habitual activities occurring during the evening hours and is a standard part of everyday Finnish.