Sulkeilla

Sulkeilla is a Finnish verb in the -lla verb class, formed from the root sulje- with the suffix -illa. The basic sense is close to the English “to close” or “to shut,” usually referring to the act of bringing something to a closed state. The verb can describe closing a physical opening such as a door, a lid, or a valve, and it can also be used to describe more abstract or ongoing closing actions in descriptive or technical contexts. In ordinary speech, speakers often choose sulkea for straightforward closures, while sulkeilla adds nuance of repetition, process, or emphasis on the action itself.

Morphology and conjugation

Sulkeilla is a regular -lla verb and follows the standard Finnish conjugation pattern for this class. Present tense forms include: minä sulkeilen, sinä sulkeilet, hän sulkeilee, me sulkeilemme, te sulkeilette, he sulkeilevat. The imperfect (past) forms are: minä sulkeilin, sinä sulkeilit, hän sulkeili, me sulkeilimme, te sulkeilitte, he sulkeilivat. The passive past is sulkeiltiin. The past participle is sulkeillut, and the present participle is sulkeillessa. The verb can be negated withei: en sulkeile, et sulkeile, hän ei sulkeile, etc.

Usage notes

Sulkeilla is most common in contexts where the closure is depicted as a process, repeated action, or ongoing state, rather than a single instantaneous act. It is somewhat less frequent in everyday speech than the more basic sulkea, but it appears in descriptive prose, technical writing, and dialogue that emphasizes the action of closing as an activity. The primary antonym is avata (to open).

See also

Finnish verbs of the sulje- root, sulkea, avata.