Lähimpien

Lähimpien is the genitive plural form of the Finnish adjective lähin, meaning nearest or closest. It is used when referring to a group of items or persons that are closest to the speaker or to another reference point, and the noun it modifies is in the genitive plural.

In Finnish, adjectives agree with the nouns they describe in number and case. Therefore lähimpien appears only when the following noun is in the genitive plural. Related forms include lähimmät (nominative plural) and lähimmän (genitive singular). For example: lähimpien talojen ikkunat means “the windows of the nearest houses,” and lähimpien ystävien mielipiteet means “the opinions of the closest friends.”

Usage of lähimpien tends to convey physical proximity, but it can also express social or temporal closeness. It commonly appears in descriptive phrases in everyday language, journalism, and narrative text. Examples include phrases like lähimpien naapureiden puheluita tai lähimpien päivien suunnitelmat, where the sense is “the nearest neighbors’ calls” or “the plans for the upcoming days” depending on the noun that follows in genitive plural.

Etymologically, lähin derives from the root meaning near, connected to the broader family of words indicating proximity in Finnish. As with other adjectives, its form changes to match the case and number of the noun it modifies.

See also: sekä the basic form lähin for the singular, and the related word läheinen meaning near.