Kuluttua

Kuluttua is a Finnish time-expression used to indicate that something will happen after a certain period of time has elapsed. It is formed from the verb kulua, which means to elapse or pass, and functions as a marker of a future moment relative to a reference point.

Usage and formation: The phrase usually follows a numeric time unit, such as kolmen päivän kuluttua (three days later) or kahden viikon kuluttua (two weeks later). The standard construction is a numeral in genitive plus the time unit in genitive, followed by kuluttua. This expression is common in both written and spoken Finnish, especially in schedules, notices, and narrative timelines.

Grammatical notes: The time word is declined in the genitive to agree with the numeral, for example kolmen päivän kuluttua, kahden viikon kuluttua. Kuluttua itself does not inflect for subject in typical time phrases; it serves to link the reference point with the subsequent event.

Examples:

- Kokous alkaa kolmen päivän kuluttua.

- Tiedote julkaistaan kahden viikon kuluttua.

Semantics and usage context: Kuluttua conveys a clear sense of “after that amount of time has passed” and is often preferred in formal or instructional contexts over more casual phrases. It can be used across various time spans, from days to years, though longer spans may become part of more complex expressions.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb kulua, meaning to elapse, with the -ttua suffix forming a time-indicating expression. It is a standard, stable element in Finnish temporal language.