Jolleivät

Jolleivät is a Finnish word that functions as a conjunction. It is a negative existential construction that can be translated to English as "unless" or "if not". Its usage implies a condition that, if not met, will lead to a particular outcome or statement. The core meaning of "jolleivät" is to introduce a negative conditional clause.

For example, "Menen ulos, jolleivät lapset ole vielä nukkumassa" translates to "I will go outside unless the children are not yet asleep." In this sentence, the speaker's intention to go outside is dependent on the condition that the children are already asleep. If the children are not yet asleep, the speaker will not go outside. The word "jolleivät" therefore establishes a prerequisite for the main clause.

The word is formed from the negative existential verb "ei" (not) combined with the third-person plural conditional form of the verb "olla" (to be), which is "olisivat", and the suffix "-t" which is often attached to personal pronouns in conditional clauses. Therefore, "jolleivät" can be understood as a contracted form indicating "if they are not". It is a common and integral part of Finnish grammar, enabling the expression of nuanced conditional relationships.