ennemmin

Ennemmin is a Finnish adverb meaning “sooner” or “rather.” It is used to express a preference or inclination toward one option over another. In most cases it appears in comparative constructions with kuin (“than”), for example: Hän menisi ennemmin kahville kuin teelle, meaning “He would rather go for coffee than tea.” The sense of “sooner” can also extend to decisions about plans or actions, as in Me menemme ennemmin ulos kuin sisälle, “We will go outside sooner (rather than staying in).”

Etymology and form: Ennimin is formed with the standard Finnish adverbial comparative suffix -emmin, which marks a higher degree of comparison for adverbs. It functions as an independent adverb and is not a conjunction or pronoun. It should be distinguished from time-related words such as ennen or aikaisemmin, which convey temporal ordering rather than preference.

Usage notes: Ennemmin commonly appears in hypothetical or conditional statements about preferences, and it is a normal part of everyday Finnish in both spoken and written language. In very casual speech, speakers may choose simpler phrasings like “enemmän” or direct statements of preference, but ennemmin remains correct and widely understood in appropriate contexts.

See also: Finnish grammar; Finnish language; Adverbs in Finnish; Comparative forms.