Vanhoissa

Vanhoissa is a Finnish grammatical form that functions as the inessive plural of the adjective vanha, meaning old. In Finnish, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in number and case; for a plural noun in the inessive case, the adjective takes the ending -issa, producing vanhoissa. The form literally means “in the old [ones/places/things]” and is used to describe location or state within multiple old items, places, or concepts.

Usage examples illustrate how vanhoissa operates with different nouns. Vanhoissa kirjoissa kuvataan keskiajan elämää, meaning “In old books the life of the Middle Ages is described.” Vanhoissa rakennuksissa on säilynyt alkuperäiset rakenteet, meaning “In old buildings, the original structures have survived.” The form can precede any plural noun in the inessive case when the speaker intends to refer to things or places that are old.

Etymologically, vanhoissa derives from the adjective vanha meaning old, with standard Finnish inflection rules producing the plural inessive form. It is not a standalone noun but a grammatical form used in descriptive or historical contexts.

See also: vanha, Finnish grammar, inessive case.