Kunnioittaviin

Kunnioittaviin is the illative plural form of the Finnish adjective kunnioittava, meaning respectful or courteous. In Finnish, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in number and case; when the noun is in illative case and plural, the adjective takes the corresponding illative plural form, here -iin. Therefore kunnioittaviin modifies a plural noun in illative, as in kunnioittaviin ihmisiin (to the respectful people).

Usage context and nuance: The form is typically found in formal or written language, especially when identifying or directing attention toward a group described as respectful. It functions as a grammatical inflection rather than as a standalone noun.

Etymology and morphology: The base adjective kunnioittava derives from the noun kunnioitus (respect) with the common adjectival suffix -va/-vа. The illative plural suffix for adjectives is -iin, yielding kunnioittaviin. This pattern mirrors the broader Finnish system where adjectives decline to reflect the number and case of the noun they modify.

Grammatical notes: Kunnioittaviin is one of several illative plural forms adjectives can take to agree with a plural noun in illative. It can pair with various plural nouns to express “toward the respectful ones” or “to the respectful people,” depending on context and verb construction.

See also: kunnioittava, kunnioitus, Finnish grammar, illative case, adjective declension.

References: Finnish grammar resources and dictionaries describe the illative plural inflection of adjectives and provide examples of phrases such as kunnioittaviin ihmisiin.