Paniikkiin

Paniikkiin is the illative case form of the Finnish noun paniikki, meaning “into panic” or “into a state of panic.” In Finnish grammar, the illative marks movement toward or into a state, and paniikkiin is used with verbs that describe entering or slipping into panic, for example vaipua paniikkiin (“to sink into panic”) and ajautua paniikkiin (“to be carried into panic”).

Usage: The form is common in everyday language and fiction when describing sudden emotional reactions. It is not a specialized clinical term; for clinical contexts Finnish typically uses paniikkikohtaus to denote a panic attack or acute anxiety episode.

Distinctions: Paniikki refers to the emotion of intense fear, while paniikkiin expresses transition into that state. By contrast, paniikissa means “in a panic,” indicating being in the state rather than moving into it.

Etymology: The Finnish noun paniikki is borrowed from other languages—likely through Swedish or English—and ultimately traces back to the Greek panikos, related to the god Pan. The illative suffix -in forms a specific meaning of direction into the state described by paniikki.

See also: Panik, panic (etymology), paniikkikohtaus (panic attack), Finnish grammar (cases).