etupuolelta

Etupuolelta is a Finnish directional term meaning from the front side of something. It is used to indicate origin, position, or viewpoint relative to the object's front surface, and is common in technical, design, and instructional texts.

Formation and grammar: The word is formed from etu (front) and puoli (side) with the ablative suffix -lta, which marks origin from a surface or location. It functions as an adverbial phrase that can modify verbs or describe from which part something is observed or accessed. Related forms include etupuolella (on the front side) and etupuolelta is the ablative variant; opposite terms include takapuolelta (from the back side).

Usage: It appears in contexts such as product manuals, architecture, photography, and mechanics to specify orientation or access. It is less common in casual speech and more common in precise descriptions. The expression helps distinguish front-side access or view from other sides.

Examples: Kannen etupuolelta löytyvät napit. (The buttons are on the front side of the lid.) Kuva on otettu etupuolelta. (The photo was taken from the front.)

See also: Finnish spatial expressions such as etu-, takapuoli, sivulta, and other directional phrases used to describe positions relative to surfaces.