Kanavalla

Kanavalla is the Finnish adessive form of kanava, meaning “on the channel” or “on the canal.” The term is used for both physical waterways and broadcast or communication channels. In everyday language, kanavalla indicates where something is located or through which medium it is delivered.

In the waterways sense, kanavalla describes objects or vessels that are on a canal, for example: “Laiva on kanavalla” (The ship is on the canal). In media and broadcasting contexts, it refers to the channel on which a program or service is shown, such as “ohjelma on kanavalla” or “ohjelma on kanavalla Yle TV1,” and can also appear as “kanavalla 7” to denote channel number seven. In digital and streaming contexts, kanava can denote a platform or channel, so kanavalla can indicate the streaming or online channel through which content is accessed.

Etymology and grammar: kanavalla is formed from kanava plus the adessive suffix -lla. The related forms include kanavalle (to the channel) and kanavasta (from the channel). The adessive is used to express location on or at something, with other cases adjusting meaning for direction or origin.

See also: kanava, televisio, radiokanava, suoratoisto.