Minimaalisiin

Minimaalisiin is a Finnish adjective form derived from the word minimaalinen (minimal). It functions as an illative plural form, used with a plural noun to mean “to the minimal ones” or “into minimal [things/conditions].” In Finnish, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in case and number, so the illative plural ending -isiin attaches to the adjective when it precedes a plural noun in the illative case.

In practical use, minimaalisiin appears in phrases such as minimaalisiin tiloihin (into minimal spaces), minimaalisiin rajoihin (to minimal limits), or minimaalisiin toimenpiteisiin (to minimal measures). The form is typical in formal or technical language, policy texts, and academic writing, where descriptions pertain to minimal thresholds, requirements, or constraints.

Etymology and grammar: minimaalinen is borrowed into Finnish from a word with a root tied to the concept of minimality, itself connected to the international term minimal/minimum. The -inen ending marks it as an adjective, and when describing a plural noun in the illative case, the adjective takes the plural illative form -isiin. This pattern mirrors other Finnish adjectives used with plural nouns in the illative, such as suurisiin tiloihin (into large spaces).

See also: Finnish grammar, illative case, adjectives in Finnish, inflection patterns for adjectives.