Vaikeille

Vaikeille is the allative plural form of the Finnish adjective vaikea, meaning difficult. It functions as a modifier in the allative case or as a stand-alone form in ellipsed constructions, indicating the recipients or targets of an action or the group for whom something is intended. In practice, vaikeille is used to express phrases such as “for those who find this difficult” or “aimed at the difficult ones.”

In typical usage, toinen part of a noun phrase is provided in the allative as well, creating expressions like kurssi on suunnattu vaikeille (the course is aimed at those who find it difficult) or tukea tarjotaan vaikeille (support is offered to the difficult ones). The form can accompany a noun in allative, for example vaikeille oppilaille (for students who have difficulties), where both the adjective and the noun take the allative ending. Adjective-noun combinations in Finnish often require agreement in number and case.

Etymology and morphology: the form vaikeille is created by adding the allative suffix -lle to the stem of the adjective vaikea. It does not involve a vowel change to the stem and is limited to plural referents in the allative case.

Usage notes: vaikeille tends to appear in formal, administrative, or educational contexts. It can sound clinical or label-like if overused. In more neutral or person-centered language, speakers may prefer constructions that specify the group more directly, such as oppilaille, joilla on vaikeuksia (“students who have difficulties”) or similar phrasings that avoid blanket labeling.