Lyhyilläkin

Lyhyilläkin is a Finnish phrase formed from the adjective lyhyt (short) in its plural adessive form lyhyillä, with the particle -kin meaning “even.” The combination conveys the idea that something applies to or includes also the shorter items or cases, often with a sense of contrast or emphasis. The expression is common in everyday Finnish and is used in both spoken and written language.

Etymology and construction: -kin is a postposed particle that adds emphasis or inclusivity, roughly equivalent to “even” in English. When attached to a noun in a case form, as in lyhyillä, it expands the scope to include entities that might be overlooked or deprioritized in a comparison with longer or larger items. The result, lyhyilläkin, highlights that the statement holds true “even for the short ones.”

Usage: Lyhyilläkin tends to appear in contexts where there is a consideration of multiple variants, sizes, durations, or distances, and the speaker wants to stress that the shorter or smaller ones are still relevant. It often carries a subtle tone of practicality, inclusivity, or mild surprise at how little length or magnitude is required to achieve a result.

Examples:

- Lyhyilläkin matkoilla voi löytää mielenkiintoisia maisemia. (Even on short trips, one can find interesting scenery.)

- Lyhyilläkin teksteillä voidaan välittää vahva sanoma. (Even short texts can convey a strong message.)

See also: Finnish grammar, particle -kin, kin usage in Finnish.