ihmetykseen

Ihmetykseen is a Finnish noun form that denotes movement into or the state of astonishment or wonder. It is the illative singular form of the noun ihmetys, which means astonishment or marvel. The illative case expresses direction into a state or condition, so ihmetykseen can be understood as “into astonishment” or “into a state of wonder.” The word’s root is ihmet- from ihme, meaning miracle or marvel. The term is most often found in literary, religious, or historically oriented Finnish and is less common in everyday speech.

Usage of ihmetykseen tends to be literary or formal. It signals a strong emotional response to something surprising or marvelous and can describe a moment or process in which a person is drawn into awe. Because it is an illative form, ihmetykseen appears in constructions that convey entering or being placed into that state, such as in older or stylistically marked texts. In contemporary everyday language, speakers more commonly express the idea with phrases like ihmeissään (in astonishment) or use other nouns such as ihme or ihmetys to convey similar meanings. The term thus occupies a niche role in Finnish, primarily within poetry, biblical or ceremonial language, and other forms of rhetoric where a heightened, formal tone is desired.