Lyhyempiäkin

Lyhyempiäkin is a Finnish grammatical form that combines the comparative adjective lyhyempi (shorter) with the enclitic particle -kin, meaning also or even, to emphasize inclusion. It is formed from the plural partitive lyhyempiä when combined with -kin, and is used to indicate that not only longer items are considered, but shorter ones as well.

Morphology and construction: The base is lyhyempi, the comparative of lyhyt. To refer to multiple items in a non-specific sense, the form becomes lyhyempiä. The enclitic particle -kin attaches to this plural partitive form to convey emphasis or inclusivity, yielding lyhyempiäkin. The overall meaning is “even shorter ones” or “shorter ones as well,” depending on context.

Usage and nuance: Lyhyempiäkin is used when a speaker wants to broaden a contrast or to include shorter options alongside longer ones. It often appears in discourse, writing, marketing, and everyday speech. The -kin particle adds a subtle contrastive or inclusive nuance, signaling that the shorter variants are not merely possible but also worthy of consideration.

Examples:

- Finnish: Tarjoamme useita vaihtoehtoja, mukaan lukien lyhyempiäkin.

English: We offer several options, including even shorter ones.

- Finnish: Tarvitaan lyhyempiäkin selityksiä.

English: We need even shorter explanations.

See also: Finnish grammar, comparative adjectives, enclitic particles, kin. lyhyempiäkin illustrates how Finnish combines adjectives with the enclitic -kin to extend the scope of reference to include additional, often shorter, alternatives.