Kylkiäisinä

Kylkiäisinä is a Finnish term used to describe items or benefits that are provided as free extras alongside a main product or service. The corresponding noun kylkiäinen refers to a freebie, often small and inexpensive, given to the customer at no additional cost. In practice, kylkiäiset appear in retail promotions, online orders, and loyalty programs, and can range from physical samples and promotional gifts to digital add-ons or extended services.

The phrase kylkiäisinä is used to indicate the form of the freebies, meaning “as freebies” or “as a bonus.” It is commonly found in marketing and consumer contexts. For example, a purchase may include kylkiäisinä näytekappaleita (free sample pieces), or customers may receive kylkiäisinä tarroja or other small gifts at checkout. The term emphasizes the ancillary value added to the main product, rather than the primary item being sold.

Etymology and usage notes often point to kylkiäinen as something that accompanies the main item. While the exact historical origins are not always explicit, the word conveys the sense of an accompanying, optional extra. Kylkiäisiä are distinct from formal gifts (lahjat) or paid bonuses, as they are typically offered as a promotional or courtesy gesture and do not affect the price of the main product.

See also: free sample, promotion, gift with purchase, bonus item.