aikaisempi

Aikaisempi is a Finnish adjective meaning earlier or previous. It is used to indicate that something is earlier in time or in a sequence relative to something else. The word can modify a noun to form phrases such as aiempi versio (the earlier/previous version), aiemmat tapahtumat (the earlier events), or aiemman päivän tapahtumat (the events of the previous day).

The adverb corresponding to aikaisempi is aiemmin, which means earlier or previously. The term is commonly used in both written and spoken Finnish, especially when contrasting versions, schedules, or contexts. Its antonym is later or subsequent, expressed with words such as myöhempi or myöhäisempi.

Grammar and usage notes: aikaisempi, like other Finnish adjectives, inflects for number and case to match the noun it describes. It belongs to the standard comparative forms in Finnish created with the -empi suffix, forming a relative degree of temporal precedence. While aiempi is widely understood as “earlier,” aikaisempi often appears in more formal or technical contexts, such as reports, histories, and documentation, though both forms are common in everyday language.

Etymology: aikaisempi is derived from the time-related root aika (time) and the comparative suffix -empi, producing a word that conveys a sense of being more previous or prior.

See also: aiempi, myöhempi, aiemmin.