Isovanhempien

Isovanhempien is a Finnish grammatical form meaning “the grandparents’” or “of the grandparents.” It is the genitive plural form of isovanhempi, which refers to a grandparent (a parent’s parent). The singular nominative is isovanhempi and the plural nominative is isovanhemmat (the grandparents).

In Finnish, possession is shown by using the possessor in the genitive case. Therefore isovanhempien is used when something belongs to the grandparents. For example, isovanhempien talo means “the grandparents’ house.” If there are several houses, the possessed noun would pluralize as well, for example isovanhempien talot meaning “the grandparents’ houses.”

The term is commonly used in everyday language, family conversations, and genealogical contexts to specify ownership or association with one’s grandparents. It can appear in narratives, documents, and discussions about family history, care arrangements, or shared family belongings. As a compound, isovanhempien reflects Finnish’s productive approach to forming possessives with plural possessors.

Notes on usage: isovanhempien accompanies a possessed noun in the singular or plural, depending on what is being referred to. The form is not a standalone noun but a possessive marker tied to isovanhempi’s plural/genitive pattern. The straightforward equivalents in English are “the grandparents’” or “of the grandparents.”