hymyillen

Hymyillen is a Finnish word that functions as the present adverbial participle of the verb hymyillä, meaning to smile. It expresses manner and is translated into English as “smiling” or “with a smile.” As a non-finite form, it is used to describe how an action is performed, often in subordinate clauses or as a modifier in main clauses.

The form is created from the verb stem with the adverbial participle suffix, yielding hymyillen. It can appear after the verb in sentences such as “Hän käveli hymyillen” (He walked, smiling) or at the beginning of a sentence as “Hymyillen hän sanoi…” (Smiling, he said…). It may also modify the subject in the main clause, as in “Hymyillen, hän lausui…” The construction is versatile and compatible with a wide range of verbs to convey a positive or friendly tone.

In usage, hymyillen is common in descriptive writing, narrative prose, and journalistic style to add tone or characterize the speaker without forming a separate independent clause. It often signals simultaneous action or sets a particular affective context for the reader.

Related forms and comparable adverbial participles in Finnish include nauraen (laughing) and itkien (crying), which serve similar functions in describing manner. Hymyillen thus fits into a broader pattern of adverbial participles used to nuance actions in Finnish prose.